Resources
Consumer Checklists
These consumer checklists are a resource for people with Medicare. These checklists can help you pick a drug plan, a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap plan. There are also checklists you can use when you call Social Security about Extra Help (a federal program that can help with prescription drug costs). These checklists are just for your use; you don't need to give them to anyone else.
- Buying a Medigap Plan
- Calling SSA about Extra Help
- Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan
- Choosing a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
- Medicare Part B Enrollment
- Your Health Insurance Information - Medicare Advantage Plan
- Your Health Insurance Information - Original Medicare
Employer Insurance and Medicare Part B Toolkit
This toolkit of educational materials is designed to help older adults navigate the transition from employer-based health insurance to Medicare. The toolkit aims to clearly explain how Medicare coordinates with different kinds of employer-based health insurance, including current employer coverage, retiree or union coverage, and COBRA. Useful for both consumers and professionals, it contains PowerPoint trainings, frequently asked questions, common scenarios, a glossary of terms and more.
Best Buy Drugs and Medicare Drug Appeals
Nine free Medicare Rights Center information sheets on effective and cost-saving medications based on the Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs project. Included on the back of each sheet is a step-by-step description of how to make an appeal if Medicare has denied coverage of a drug. An overview information sheet describes the Best Buy Drug website and the great resources available on it.
- ACE Inhibitors
- Antidepressants
- Best Buy Drugs Overview
- Beta-Blockers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Diabetes Drugs
- NSAIDs
- Prostate Enlargement
- Statins
This guide can be used to conduct workshops that that allow for more in-depth review and discussion on how older adults can cost-effectively manage their prescription medications. The workshop uses the nine information sheets as reference material and is divided into three sections that can be presented altogether or as separate, shorter presentations.
Smart Prescription Drug Choices: Workshop Guide
This brief introduction to the nine information sheets on effective and cost-saving medications can be used by health professionals to help describe the material to patients or clients The introduction takes less than thirty seconds. Included is a short outline that provides additional information that can be referred to by health professionals if patients or clients have additional questions about the material.
Senior-friendly Best Buy Drugs: Brief Introduction
Medicare Interactive
Medicare Interactive (MI) is the Medicare Rights Center’s free web-based resource. You can search for answers to specific questions or learn about general areas of Medicare, like Part D or Medigaps. Click here to visit MI.
Medicare Rights University
Medicare Rights University (MRU) is a web-based educational program developed by the Medicare Rights Center. It provides detailed written courses on Medicare topics, along with webinars for easy viewing. Access to all of these services is available through a paid subscription. Click here to visit MRU and to review a sample course.