New Medicare prescription drug coverage : who can help me apply and enroll?

2005·0.1 MB·English

by  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (U.S.)

"
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE&MEDICAID SERVICES
New Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage—
Who Can Help Me Apply and Enroll?
StartingJanuary1,2006,Medicarewillofferprescriptiondrugplanstohelp
youpayfortheprescriptionsyouneed.Medicareprescriptiondrugplanswill
beofferedbyinsurancecompaniesandotherprivatecompaniesapprovedby
Medicare.Planswillcoverbothgenericandbrand-nameprescriptiondrugs.
Youcanchooseandenrollintheplanthatmeetsyourneeds.
Ifyouhavelimitedincomeandresources,youmayqualifyforextrahelpin
payingforyourMedicareprescriptiondrugplancosts.TheSocialSecurity
Administrationwillmailanapplicationforextrahelpinthesummerof2005to
thosewhohavecertainlimitedincomeandresources.Ifyouqualify,youmaynot
havetopayapremiumordeductible,butmaystillhavetopaycopayamounts.
IfyougethelpfromMedicaidinpayingyourMedicarepremiums,receive
SupplementalSecurityIncome,orgetfullMedicaidbenefits,youdon'tneedto
applyforextrahelp.Medicarealreadyknowsyouqualifyforthishelp.Youwill
getaletterfromMedicareinMayorJunetellingyouMedicarewillhelppaythe
costofyourMedicareprescriptiondrugs.
I have someone who makes health care decisions
for me. Can this person enroll me in a Medicare
prescription drug plan?
Yes.Ifsomeonehasthelegalrighttomakehealthcaredecisionsonyourbehalf,
(suchasthroughaPowerofAttorney),thispersoncanenrollyouinaMedicare
prescriptiondrugplanthatmeetsyourneeds.Thispersonissometimescalledan
"authorizedrepresentative.
LL007
3 flOTS fl
Who can fill outthe application forextra help
for me?
Yourlegalrepresentativecanfillouttheapplicationforyoutoseeifyouqualify
fortheextrahelppayingforprescriptiondrugs.Youcanalsochooseanindividual
toactasyourrepresentativetofillouttheapplicationforyou(suchasyour
spouse,yourchild,oracaregiver).
Unlessyourpersonalrepresentativeisalsoyourlegalrepresentative,heorshecan't
enrollyouinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplan.
For more information about Medicare prescription
drug coverage, readthe"Medicare&You2006"handbookyougetin
themailinOctober2005.Itwillincludemoredetailedinformationabout
Medicareprescriptiondrugplans,includingwhichplanswillbeavailableinyour
area.Afterthattime,ifyouneedhelpchoosingaMedicareprescriptiondrugplan
thatmeetsyourneeds,youcan
• visitwww.medicare.govontheweb.Select"SearchTools"togetpersonalized
information.
• call1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227).TTYusersshouldcall
1-877-486-2048.
• calltheStateHealthInsuranceAssistanceProgramforfacetofaceassistance
(seethe"Medicare&You2006"handbookforthetelephonenumber).You
canalsocall1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227),orvisitwww.medicare.gov
onthewebtogetthetelephonenumber.
• lookforlocalMedicare-relatedevents.
!C2-07-13 I
CMSPub.No.11125
July2005