Advice on dual eligibles who switch Part D plans

Pharmacists should warn dual-eligible patients who intend to switch Part D drug plans to do so by the middle of the month to avoid having to provide emergency drug supplies, according to NCPA. Dual eligibles are allowed to switch drug plans every month, which means, in theory, that they could drop one plan and sign up for another at one minute to midnight on the last day of the month and be covered by the new plan the next day. However, the reality is that the ability of Part D plans to make changes drops dramatically in the second half of the month.