In the current economy, being able to save money for prescription drugs is very important. That’s why I was excited to see that Drugs.com announced the launch of its new Medicare Part D Guide and Plan Selector Tool to help seniors make the most of this federal government program. The Guide and Tool will be available on the Drugs.com Web site for the duration of the Medicare Part D enrollment period from November 15 - December 31.

Medicare Part D is a federal government program designed by Medicare to help eligible citizens pay for prescription drugs. It began in January 2005, and by most accounts has been beneficial for seniors but it is also rife with confusion and traps for the unwary. Congress has recognized that Part D in its current form does not reflect the respect and convenience the eldest members of our society deserve. To date, however, legislative attempts to revamp the system have failed. For now, knowledge is the key to avoiding unnecessary expense.

According to Drugs.com, the most controversial feature of Part D is the benign-sounding donut hole. Also known as the coverage gap, it is an abrupt discontinuation of benefits that occurs when drug costs (the total paid by both the member and the plan) hit the $2700 mark. Once this threshold is crossed, the member must bear the full cost of his or her drugs - a heavy burden indeed. To many seniors, news of this predicament comes as a rude shock, especially since it tends to arrive toward the end of the year, around the holidays. “Forewarned is forearmed” is the operative maxim when it comes to staying out of the donut hole. By switching to cheaper drugs or generics, they can avoid or postpone loss of benefits.

The Drugs.com Plan D Guide and Comparison tool (Powered by MedicareSaver) allows seniors and caregivers to simply enter a ZIP code and list of medications to compare and select the most suitable and cost effective plan from a comprehensive range of providers. Plan details are displayed graphically to help users easily understand the monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pay fees and when the “donut hole” comes into effect.