Step-by-Step

1.Access Medicare.gov and Log In:Sign in to save time or continue as guest.
Visit medicare.gov and select "Find health and drug plans." [01:11]

• Logged-in Users: Signing into your account automatically populates your current plan, saved medications, and preferred pharmacies [01:27].
  
• Guests: Enter your primary residence ZIP code to begin [01:35].

2.Select Plan Type & Assistance Programs:
Choose the plan type you want to evaluate (e.g., Standalone Part D or Medicare Advantage) [01:48]. Indicate whether you receive financial assistance programs such as Medicaid or Extra Help [02:02].
3.Input All Prescriptions Accurately:Check drug bottles for exact details.
Select "Yes, include drug costs" and enter each medication [02:14].

• Specify the exact name, dosage, and monthly frequency [02:25].
• Double-check labels for accuracy, as minor dosage mistakes can significantly warp cost estimates [02:30].

4.Select Preferred Pharmacies:
Choose the pharmacies you realistically plan to use [02:48]. Drug pricing varies drastically between preferred, standard, and out-of-network pharmacies under the same plan [02:55].
5.Evaluate Total Estimated Annual Costs:Do not focus solely on monthly premiums.
Review the sorted plan results [03:11]. Instead of picking the lowest monthly premium, focus on Estimated Yearly Drug & Premium Cost [03:18].

• Examine the monthly premium, annual deductible, copays, drug restrictions (prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits), and pharmacy network status [03:39].

6.Complete Enrollment (Optional):
If a better plan is identified, click Enroll directly on Medicare.gov using your Medicare Card number and effective dates [04:05]. If you are only comparing, you can exit with no changes made [05:11].
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Comparing against the wrong current plan: Ensure you verify contract codes and exact plan names so you measure accurate savings [05:35].
• Assuming drug coverage stays the same: Formularies change annually; drugs can change tiers, require prior authorizations, or be dropped [06:06].
• Overlooking pharmacy network tiers: Not all in-network pharmacies charge the same rate—preferred pharmacies offer lower copays [06:36].
  
• Forgetting annual deductible resets: Part D deductibles reset every January 1st regardless of prior spending [07:06].
• Not verifying if the top-listed plan differs from your current one: Medicare.gov sorts by lowest cost, meaning your current plan might already be at the top of the list [07:29].