Quick Facts about Medicare’s New Coverage for Prescription Drugs for people with limited income and resources
Starting January 1, 2006, Medicare will offer prescription drug coverage for all people with Medicare. If you have Medicare and have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help paying for prescription drugs.
What do I need to know?
- If your annual income is below $14,355 for a single person (or $19,245 if you are married and living with your spouse), you may qualify for extra help. Slightly higher income levels may apply if you provide ½ support to other family members living with you, or if you work or reside in Alaska and Hawaii.
- And if your resources (including your savings and stocks, but not counting your home or car) are under $11,500 (for a single person) or under $23,000 (for a married couple) you may qualify for extra help paying for your Medicare prescription drug costs.
- You can apply for this extra help through the Social Security Administration or your State Medical Assistance Office. Social Security is mailing the application for extra help to those who may qualify. If you receive an application, fill it out and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope.
- The amount of extra help you get depends on your income and resources.
- You still need to join a Medicare prescription drug plan for Medicare to pay for your drug costs.
- You can join a Medicare prescription drug plan from November 15, 2005 through May 15, 2006. If you join by December 31, 2005, your coverage begins
January 1, 2006. If you join after January 1, 2006, your coverage starts the first day of the month after the month you join. - If you qualify for extra help, you will have continuous drug coverage and will pay only a small amount for your prescriptions.
How do I get more information?
For more information on who can get extra help with prescription drug costs and how to apply, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or visit
www.socialsecurity.gov on the web. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.
You will receive detailed information from Medicare about your choice of Medicare prescription drug plans in October 2005. You can look at the “Medicare
& You 2006” handbook, visit www.medicare.gov on the web or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
Quick Facts about Medicare’s New Coverage for Prescription Drugs If You Applied for Extra Help
You’ve applied for extra help with Medicare prescription drug costs using Social Security’s application, so what happens next?
Social Security will begin processing applications for extra help on July 1, 2005. If your online or paper application is not complete, Social Security will call you or
write to you asking for the missing information. Your application will be processed as quickly as possible, and you will receive a letter in the mail telling you if you qualify.
What do I need to know?
- Applying for extra help is just one step. You still need to join a Medicare
prescription drug plan to get Medicare prescription drug coverage. - Even if you don’t qualify for extra help, you should still consider joining a
Medicare prescription drug plan. If you join a Medicare prescription drug plan,
Medicare pays about half of your prescription drug costs, even without any
extra help. - You can join a Medicare prescription drug plan November 15, 2005 through
May 15, 2006, but the sooner you join the sooner you’ll start saving money on
your prescription drug costs. If you join a plan by December 31, 2005, your
coverage will begin January 1, 2006. If you join after January 1, 2006, your
coverage starts the first of the month after the month you join.
How can I get more information?
If you need more information about your application for extra help,
- call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.
- visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web.
If you haven’t yet applied for extra help with your Medicare prescription drug costs, you should know that many people will receive an application for extra help
in the mail. If you think you qualify, fill it out and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. Also, Social Security has a tool available online where you
can see if you may qualify for help with your prescription drug costs. In addition to the tool, beginning July 1, 2005, you can apply for the extra help online.
For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage,
- read the “Medicare & You 2006” handbook that you get in the mail in October 2005.
- visit www.medicare.gov on the web. Select “search tools” to get personalized information.
- call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see your copy of the“ Medicare & You 2006” handbook for their telephone number).
- call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
- look for local Medicare-related events.
For the latest information about Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. To get a copy of this information in Spanish, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
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