| Goldy, it depends on your policy. If you have prescription coverage, then your meds should be cheaper if that type of medication is covered. Once you have paid your deductible for the year, then, depending on the coverage outlined in your particular policy, your insurance should start paying whatever it says it will pay. I know I am being vague, but there are sooooo many different policies out there with sooooo many different types of coverage, that it is hard to give you a straight answer. Basically, IF YOU HAVE MEDICARE, AARP will pay AFTER Medicare pays. If your doctor accepts assignment, AARP will pay directly to the doctor. You may or may not have anything to pay for on your own.....(here again, depending on your coverage) Don't pay anything to your doctor until you have been notified that the payment has been denied because of the deductable wasn't met, or that particular service was not covered. For example. The doctor bills Medicare for a $50 visit. Medicare approves payment for $40.00. Medicare then pays 80% of the $40.00, (NOT 80% of the $50.00) which would be $32.00. If your insurance coverage is the balance AFTER Medicare, insurance will pay 20% of $40.00, or 8.00. The payment is made to the doctor. Now, if your doctor has agreed to accept assignment, he will write off the $10.00 balance of the $50.00 charge. If you have not met your deductable for the year, the $32.00 payment that Medicare would have sent to the doctor is applied to your deductable amount. so you would have to pay a total of $68.00 more before Medicare and your insurance will start paying. Doctors are required to inform you when they are about to do a procedure that is NOT covered under Medicare. If they do it without informing you, and Medicare refuses to pay, you can object and refuse to pay. when in doubt...ASK! . | 
