Friend on medicare just moved to dallas from out of state no new dr yet but needs psych meds refilled
Posted by NonFungibleTokenism@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 14 comments
I'm not sure what they should do and i directed them to ask here but they dont use reddit and cant post here but this is what they wrote
"I am on a medicare part c plan that doesnt cover here, and i just got done meeting with social security today about updating my address and im getting a new medicare card in the mail within 30 days
but i need to change plans and havent yet and dont think I can before my prescriptions run out, im just on ssris and bipolar medication not anything abusable or more tightly controlled like xanax or opiates, but i dont want to go cold turkey or have to ration my medication if it is avoidable but im not sure where to go
Any help would be greatly appreciated thank you!"
Principle_Dramatic@reddit
Any old prescriptions in another state will also transfer so whichever pharmacy he uses can do it for him quickly if he uses a national chain.
lvoltmann@reddit
Metrocare
firstblush73@reddit
I didnt have all of the different medical insurance hurdles, but my doctor was able to do a virtual visit for a couple months after I moved.
Lung_doc@reddit
Licensing is a concern. There were Covid era waivers, but they are gone and so most practices don't do out of state telehealth
JoyfulCor313@reddit
Medicare Part C is Medigap insurance — and great your friend has it. Tough because it can differ even county by county sometimes (but generally most of the metroplex will be covered by the same plans).
Hopefully reaching out to old docs will work for emergency refills.
My next recommendation would be an office I know works with Medicare. They’d be able to answer questions about the “meantime” and if it would be at all possible to be seen as a self-pay patient as a one-off just to get established and meds filled and updated.
I’ve been with my office, Thorntree Psychiatric on Oaklawn, for 24+ years. They have loads of independent doctors, some who take original Medicare and some who may end up taking the Dallas Medigap insurance. Just depends on who the company is. Worth a call.
dallasuptowner@reddit
Medicare Part C is not Medigap, Medigap is a completely different thing known as Medicare Part F/G/N.
Medicare Part C is just privately administrated Part A/B, basically like a Medicare HMO.
JoyfulCor313@reddit
Oof, you’re right. Sorry. So is C the “Medicare advantage” plans?
dallasuptowner@reddit
Yes.
Man_Bangknife@reddit
Start with asking the folks already involved...call the # on the paperwork. Call the last prescribing doctor. Call a doctor office in the area that isn't an urgent care clinic. MHMR if an they can get an appointment quick enough, they will call in scripts based off RECENT bottles of non-controlled meds. None of the meds you mentioned of course, but also no stimulant-based ADHD meds.
Infundibulaa@reddit
Go to Parkland urgent care clinic
ldblackston@reddit
Metrocare in Dallas maybe able to fill your prescription.
Puzzled_Goose_5689@reddit
The prescription coverage should still work here even though the plan is from out of state. The Rx portion of their coverage would work the same at a Walgreens in Texas versus a Walgreens in California. As long as they have a valid prescription and insurance card/info, they should be able to get it filled here.
Part C is Medicare Advantage and most plans include prescription coverage. The pharmacy network they use is typically national even if the medical network is limited to local doctors.
If no prescription, call previous doctor to request refill and have them send it to a Dallas pharmacy.
If no insurance info, call current plan to request Rx billing info:
Member ID #
BIN #
PCN #
Rx Group #
Also, urgent care and emergency services are covered across the country so they continue to have coverage. Network limitations do not apply in emergency situations. Metrocare is a local psych specialty clinic with pharmacy on site.
The move will allow special enrollment period for a Dallas plan and can be used to enroll for June 1st effective date.
Lung_doc@reddit
I'm assuming he's tried both his psychiatrist and PCP from home - but if not, worth a try: doctors can prescribe out of state for a short term situation, and this should qualify.
Whether they are willing would likely depend on how past due your friend is with regular follow-ups and labs and how long a relationship he had with them.
NonFungibleTokenism@reddit (OP)
I didn’t know this was a thing, they left on good terms and frequent visits she got all her records and stuff just a few days before leaving I’ll suggest calling them thanks