This AEP is our third year of using PDPHelper. The following are some tips to help us do accurate searches for you on Medicare.gov.
Step 1
Please enter your name, phone, email address, your zip code, and your county of residence. Some zip codes span multiple counties, and that’s why we request your county of residence. This means where your residence sits.
For example, if you have a Post Office box in Three Forks, MT, that’s in Gallatin County. Let’s say you live off Highway 287 in Broadwater County. Please enter “Broadwater” in the field.
Next, please list your top pharmacy choices. Next, we ask you if you would use Walmart, Walgreens, or a mail order pharmacy if that will save you money.
Step 2
In this section only, enter in pills, capsules, or tablets. Liquids, gels, creams, insulin, eye drops, patches, etc. are in the next steps.
Enter the name of your prescription, the dose, the quantity you buy, and this is the quantity you buy per month, every two months, every three months, or every twelve months. If you take something as needed, estimate how many pills you buy and how often you buy it. For example: 30 pills every 3 months.
Example #1—Betty takes two, 500 mg metformin tablets every day. She buys 60 every month.
Name of Prescription: Enter metformin
Dosage: Enter 500 mg
Quantity: Enter 60
Frequency: Enter month
Example #2—John take hydrocodone/apap, 325/10 mg, as needed for back pain. Some days he takes none but other days he takes two or three. He estimates he takes around 45 per month
Name of Prescription: Enter hydrocodone/apap
Dosage: Enter 325/10 mg
Quantity: Enter 45
Frequency: Enter month
Step 3
The section is for Insulin, Inhalers and Nebulizers
Example #3—Alice uses insulin. She checks “yes”, and she enters her information as follows:
Name of insulin: Lantus solostar
Size: 3 mL
Quantity: 5 pack or just 5
Frequency: per 2 months
Example #4—Alice uses Advair. She checks “yes” for the category, “Do you use any inhalers or nebulizers?” She enters her information as follows:
Name of inhaler: Advair
Size: 250/50
Quantity: 1
Frequency: 1 month
Step 4
This final step is for Eye Drops. Gels, Creams, Lotions or Salves, and Other Prescriptions.
Example #5—Mary uses eye drops. She checks “yes” for this category and fills in the information. Please do NOT attempt to say “2 drops per eye each day.” We need to know the SIZE of the bottle, usually 2.5 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL or 15mL.
Name of eye drops: Latanoprost SOL 0.005%
Size: 2.5 mL
Quantity: 1
Frequency: 1 month
When finished, please hit the submit button.