Caregiver Checklist for Choosing a Medicare Part D Plan

You're handling your parent's Medicare because they can't navigate the website, the phone trees, or the fine print. But pulling together their drug list, comparing plans, checking pharmacy networks, and enrolling before December 7 involves a dozen steps that are easy to miss when you're doing this between your own job and family obligations. Here's the sequence, in order, with nothing left out.

Before Open Enrollment Starts (September–October 14)

1. Collect the full medication list from the bottles. Don't rely on your parent's memory or an old list taped to the fridge. Check every prescription bottle in the house — including eye drops, inhalers, patches, and anything in the bathroom cabinet. For each drug, record the name, strength, form (tablet/capsule/liquid), and the quantity dispensed per fill.

2. Record the pharmacy name and address. You'll need this for the Plan Finder comparison. If your parent uses more than one pharmacy — retail plus mail-order, for example — note both.

3. Review the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). This arrives by September 30. Check for premium increases, formulary changes, and pharmacy network updates. If any of your parent's current medications are affected, you'll need to comparison-shop.

4. Confirm your legal authority. Medicare won't discuss your parent's plan details with you unless you're authorized. If you haven't already, submit Form CMS-1696 (Appointment of Representative) to the current plan. A general power of attorney isn't enough — Medicare requires its own form.

During Open Enrollment (October 15–December 7)

5. Enter the drug list into Medicare Plan Finder. Use the guest search if you can't log into your parent's Medicare.gov account. Enter each drug with the exact dosage and quantity. Save the Drug List ID and Password Date — you'll need these if you come back later.

6. Select pharmacies and compare total costs. Add your parent's current pharmacy and at least one alternative. Sort results by "Estimated Annual Drug Cost + Premium" — the only metric that captures the full picture.

7. Check formulary coverage for every medication. Open the detail view for each top-ranked plan. Verify that every drug is covered and note the tier. Watch for PA (prior authorization), ST (step therapy), and QL (quantity limit) flags — these mean extra steps before the plan will pay.

8. Evaluate star ratings. Plans with 4+ stars from CMS have better track records on appeals processing, customer service, and pharmacy accuracy. A half-star difference matters less than formulary fit, but among similar plans, pick the higher-rated one.

9. Decide and enroll. Once you've identified the best plan, enroll through Plan Finder, by calling the plan, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Print the confirmation page with the confirmation number and date.

After Enrolling (December 8–January)

10. Refill current prescriptions in late December. Fill all maintenance medications under the old plan before December 31. This gives your parent a 30-day supply bridge in case the new plan has any processing delays in January.

11. Contact the new plan about prior authorizations. If any current medication requires PA on the new plan, have the doctor's office submit the request in December so it's approved before the first January fill. Don't wait for a pharmacy denial.

12. Confirm M3P enrollment if needed. If your parent takes expensive medications and will likely hit the $2,100 out-of-pocket cap early in the year, enroll in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan before January 1 to spread costs across 12 monthly payments.

13. Screen for Extra Help. If your parent's income is at or below $2,015/month (individual) or $2,725/month (couple) with limited assets, they may qualify for the Extra Help program, which can reduce premiums, deductibles, and copays to near zero. Apply through Social Security at ssa.gov.

The One-Page Version

For a printable, fill-in-the-blank version of this full checklist — including the medication list template, pharmacy comparison grid, and enrollment confirmation tracker — the Medicare Part D: How to Choose a Drug Plan guide includes everything a caregiver needs to get the annual review done in one sitting.

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