How to Prepare for a Medicare Annual Medication Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Seniors

Every year, millions of Medicare beneficiaries get a free, in-depth review of all their medications - but most don’t know how to get the most out of it. The Medicare Annual Medication Review, officially called a Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR), isn’t just a chat with a pharmacist. It’s your chance to catch dangerous drug interactions, lower your out-of-pocket costs, and fix confusion around pills you’ve been taking for years. And if you’re one of the 57% of eligible seniors who actually do it, you’re already ahead of the game. But here’s the catch: the quality of this review depends almost entirely on what you bring to it.

What Exactly Is a Medicare Annual Medication Review?

The Medicare Annual Medication Review is a free, personalized consultation offered by your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. It’s not optional - Medicare requires all Part D insurers to offer it at least once a year to people who qualify. The goal? To make sure every pill, supplement, and over-the-counter medicine you take is actually helping you - not hurting you.

This isn’t a quick 5-minute chat at the pharmacy counter. It’s a full 30- to 60-minute session with a licensed pharmacist who’s trained in medication therapy management (MTM). They’ll look at everything: your prescriptions, your aspirin, your fish oil, your sleep aid, even that herbal tea you swear helps your joints. They’ll check for duplicates, interactions, side effects you didn’t tell your doctor about, and whether you’re even taking your meds the right way.

And here’s the kicker: after the review, you get a written summary - a Medication Action Plan and a Personal Medication List - that you can keep, share with your doctor, or take to the ER if you need to.

Who Qualifies for the Review?

Not everyone gets invited. Medicare has specific rules. As of 2025, you qualify if you meet all of these:

• You have at least three chronic health conditions - like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, COPD, or arthritis.
• You take eight or more Medicare Part D-covered prescription medications (including maintenance drugs like insulin, blood pressure pills, or cholesterol meds).
• You spent at least $1,623 out-of-pocket on your Part D drugs in the last year.

If you’re close but don’t quite hit the mark, don’t assume you’re out of luck. In 2024, CMS expanded eligibility for certain high-risk groups - so if you have two serious conditions and are on multiple meds, it’s worth calling your plan anyway. Some plans are already offering reviews to people who don’t fully meet the criteria.

Why This Review Matters More Than You Think

Think about this: the average senior takes five to seven medications daily. Add in supplements, OTC painkillers, and vitamins, and it’s easy to lose track. Studies show that nearly 40% of seniors have at least one medication error - from taking too much to taking the wrong one.

A CMR caught a dangerous interaction between a blood thinner and a common fish oil supplement for one Reddit user, which could’ve led to internal bleeding. Another senior discovered she was taking two different pills that did the exact same thing - she was paying double for no reason. In another case, a pharmacist found a senior wasn’t taking his heart medication because he couldn’t afford it - and switched him to a $4 generic version.

The data backs it up: seniors who come prepared to their CMR are 78% more likely to report satisfaction with the review. Those who show up without their meds? Only 42% say it was helpful. This isn’t just a formality - it’s a safety net.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare for Your Review

You don’t need to be a medical expert. But you do need to be organized. Here’s exactly what to do - and how long it’ll take.

1. Gather every medication you take - all of them. This includes:

• Prescription drugs (even if you don’t take them every day)
• Over-the-counter pills (ibuprofen, antacids, sleep aids)
• Vitamins and minerals (vitamin D, calcium, B12)
• Herbal supplements (turmeric, ginkgo, echinacea)
• Topical creams or patches (pain patches, steroid creams)
• Supplements bought online or from health stores

Bring the original bottles. Don’t rely on memory. Don’t bring a list you wrote last year. The pharmacist needs to see the actual labels - the dosage, frequency, and manufacturer. If you can’t find a bottle, take a clear photo of the label with your phone.

2. Write down your concerns - be specific.

Ask yourself:

• Have you felt dizzy, tired, or confused since starting a new pill?
• Do you skip doses because you forget, or because it’s too expensive?
• Are you taking something because your doctor told you to - but you’re not sure why?
• Have you had a recent hospital visit or fall? Could it be linked to a medication?

Write these down. Even if it seems small. A pharmacist once found a senior’s memory issues were caused by an antihistamine he took for allergies - and switched him to a non-drowsy version.

3. Check your list against reality.

Most people forget 2 to 3 medications when they try to list them from memory. Look at your pill organizer. Check your bathroom cabinet. Look in your purse or nightstand. If you’ve stopped taking something - even for a week - note it. Did your doctor tell you to stop? Did it make you sick? Did you run out and not refill? Write it all down.

4. Make a simple timeline (optional but powerful).

On a piece of paper, write:

• Medication name
• When you started taking it
• Why your doctor prescribed it
• Any changes (dose increased? switched brands?)

This takes 30 to 45 minutes, but it helps the pharmacist spot patterns. Maybe you started a new blood pressure pill right before you began having headaches. That’s a clue.

5. Bring someone with you.

It’s easy to forget details during a 45-minute conversation. Bring a family member, friend, or caregiver. They can help remember questions, take notes, or even ask things you’re too shy to say. One woman brought her grandson - he asked if her “purple pill” was really necessary. Turns out, it was an old antidepressant she hadn’t taken in years.

What Happens During the Review?

The session can be in person, over the phone, or via video call. The pharmacist will:

• Compare your list to your pharmacy’s records
• Check for drug interactions (like blood thinners with NSAIDs or grapefruit juice)
• Look for duplicate medications (two drugs that do the same thing)
• Assess if you’re taking meds correctly (timing, food interactions, swallowing issues)
• Identify cost-saving alternatives (switching to generics, mail-order options)
• Discuss side effects you’ve experienced
• Answer your questions - no matter how small

You’ll get three documents afterward:

• Consultation Letter - what was discussed
• Medication Action Plan - what you should do next (e.g., stop a pill, switch to a cheaper version, schedule a blood test)
• Personal Medication List - your updated, accurate list of everything you take

Keep these. Give a copy to your primary care doctor. Keep one in your wallet or emergency kit.

Common Mistakes People Make

Don’t be one of them.

• Not bringing the actual bottles - pharmacists need to see the label, not your memory.
• Leaving out OTCs and supplements - these are just as important as prescriptions.
• Not preparing questions - if you don’t ask, you won’t get answers.
• Assuming your doctor knows everything - your pharmacist sees your full medication history. They might spot something your doctor missed.
• Skipping the review because you feel fine - many problems don’t cause symptoms until it’s too late.

What If You Don’t Get Invited?

If you think you qualify but haven’t been contacted, call your Part D plan. They’re required to reach out within 60 days of you becoming eligible. If they haven’t, ask for a CMR. Say: “I meet the CMS eligibility criteria - I’d like to schedule my annual medication review.”

Some plans now offer automated reminders via text or email. Check your plan’s website or app. If you’re still stuck, contact the Medicare Rights Center at 1-800-MEDICARE - they’ll help you navigate.

What to Expect After the Review

Your pharmacist might recommend:

• Stopping a medication that’s no longer needed
• Switching to a lower-cost generic
• Changing the time you take a pill to avoid side effects
• Adding a pill organizer or reminder app
• Referring you to your doctor for a lab test

You’re not obligated to follow every suggestion - but you should discuss it. If you’re unsure, ask: “What happens if I don’t make this change?”

And remember - you’re not done after one review. Keep your Personal Medication List updated. Every time you start or stop a medication, update it. Bring it to every doctor’s visit. It’s your best tool for staying safe.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Service Exists

Medicare didn’t create the Annual Medication Review to be nice. It’s because seniors on multiple drugs are at high risk. In 2022, over 14 million Medicare beneficiaries got a CMR. That number’s been rising every year. The goal? To reduce hospitalizations, avoid dangerous interactions, and save money - for you and for the system.

And it works. Studies show that after a CMR, seniors are 20% less likely to be hospitalized for medication-related issues. Costs drop. Adherence improves. Lives get better.

But only if you show up prepared.