According to a press release, from now until Dec. 7 Sterling Pharmacy is offering free Medicare Part D Plan consultations in an effort to make insurance plan decisions easier for seniors. All area residents who are Medicare eligible are eligible for a free 20-minute consultation with their local Sterling Medicare expert.

“Health insurance is confusing and Medicare is no exception. This fall, Sterling is committed to improving patient understanding of health insurance options by simplifying the Medicare Part D Plan selection process. Our Medicare experts are trained and ready to help community members determine which plans offer the best coverage and are most cost-effective for each individual patient,” said Tim Gallagher, president of Sterling Pharmacies. “Every patient is unique and therefore every patient deserves a personalized look at their Medicare Part D Plan options. Patients’ medication needs and Medicare Part D plans change every year so it is important everyone takes time to reevaluate their options each year to prevent any surprises at the pharmacy counter in January.”

The window to change Medicare Part D Plans is only open until Dec. 7. If this window is missed, patients must wait another year before they can make changes.

“Our Sterling Medicare experts have been performing Medicare plan consultations for several months and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Mr. Gallagher. “It turns out that many seniors are not on the most cost-effective plans. On average, Medicare patients are recognizing annual savings of approximately $1100 on prescription medications after having a consultation with their local Sterling Medicare expert.”

By sitting down with a Sterling Medicare expert, patients will receive a clear understanding of monthly premiums, deductible and medication costs; total yearly medication-related costs; and possible cost-saving medication alternatives. In addition, the patient will receive information on when they will see a coverage gap, also known as the “donut hole”, in their plan.

“At Sterling, our first priority is our patient,” said Gallagher. “Understanding Medicare Part D Plans is difficult for everyone – but those decisions don’t have to be made alone. Our Medicare Part D experts are available for anyone who is confused about the process of choosing a plan, wants to find a plan to better fit their needs, or just wants to find a more affordable option.”

For more information, please call your Sterling Pharmacy at 507-373-1486.