IBM Medicare Via Benefits website for 2022 plan changes experience

Last week I think I changed to a new part D plan for 2022. I write "I think" because the Via Benefits website is the least intuitive website I have ever used. 

The sign on to Via makes me feel like I am trying to hack into Fort Knox. But I did manage to sign on. Then I clicked the "shop" icon and bumbled through the menus to get to part D plans and select the plan I wanted to buy.  One would think once one selects a plan and puts it into the cart then it would be easy to "check out".  Fat chance.

I fumbled and bumbled around until I landed back on the Via main page and, as a guess, clicked on the link to go to the description of my policies. Maybe there are instructions somewhere on the site to do that.  It sure wasn't obvious to me.  It is in that menu the  user "purchase process" is completed.  

I sort of  completed the "buying" process and provided an electronic signature.  It's "sort of" because the last time I looked on the site,  the part D policy I want for 2022, it is "pending approval".  What they have to approve is beyond my comprehension.  Medicare, on the www.medicare.gov website, allows me to change my part D policy during Medicare Open Enrollment by just clicking an enroll button.  In fact, I can change it as many times as I want between Oct 15 and Dec 7th. 

I already buy a medigap from Via Benefits which fills the requirement of buying one policy from them,  so I really don't need to jump through the hoops of the Via Benefits website or call them to spend 30 minutes on the phone to make this plan change.  One would therefore think they would make it as easy as possible because they get commission for the sale if I buy it through them.  

What I also realized, is that I don't even need to ask for reimbursement of the part D premiums for the new plan.  I typically use up my HRA account money by about September of the year. The premium for the new plan is about $7/mo or $84/year. Not exactly a barn burner in terms of chewing through the HRA funds.  Bottom line, if Via doesn't "approve" the plan change by mid November, I will cancel the purchase and enroll through Medicare.

10/26/21 Update:

The new plan was "approved" by Via Benefits.  When I get the enrollment materials from the new plan, that will be when I trust the process!