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Autumn is here, and so is the long-awaited Medicare Part D drug benefit. This new program will offer prescription drug coverage for all 41 million Medicare patients in the United States beginning Jan.1, 2006. But, to get the benefit, you must sign up starting Nov.15. Here is a summary of the basic facts about this new program to help figure out if it applies to you:
The new Medicare prescription drug coverage, also called Medicare Part D, is available to all people on Medicare.
To take advantage of this program, you must have Medicare Part A or Part B. It does not matter if you have Medicare because of your age or because of a disability. As long as you have Medicare, you should look into this program to see if it will help you pay for your drug costs.
Medicare has never before helped pay for prescription medicines. Many people have previously had help paying for their medicines through programs like Medicaid, the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP), and drug manufacturer assistance programs. These programs will still offer health care assistance for eligible patients, but the prescription drug coverage will change or be eliminated for Medicare patients. | | This new Medicare Part D program is an insurance plan. There will be monthly premiums (a monthly participation fee), a yearly deductible (the amount you are expected to pay for medicines before the insurance kicks in), and co-pays (a part of the cost you will be expected to pay for each medicine, each time you buy the medicine). For some people with limited income and resources, there is help paying for the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. This is called the "Extra Help" program; you must apply for this program separately from the Medicare Part D program.
To see if the program applies to you, and for instruction on how to sign up, you should carefully read and save any mail that comes to you from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or the Social Security Administration. Your doctor’s office should also be able to direct you to someone to assist you with further questions.
In summary, you should ask your doctor’s office to help you gather information about the extra help program and the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan as soon as possible. Important phone numbers and Web sites are:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or www.medicare.gov;
1-800-722-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov;
1-800-503-5190 or www.accesstobenefits.org;
303-894-7553 or www.coloradomedicare.com (Colorado Division of Insurance/State Health Insurance Assistance Program) |
