Quick facts about Medicare's new coverage for prescription drugs for people with limited income and resources

2005·0.1 MB·English

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

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE&MEDICAID SERVICES
Quick Facts about Medicare's New Coverage
for Prescription Drugs for people with limited
income and resources
StartingJanuary1,2006,Medicarewillofferprescriptiondrugcoverageforall
peoplewithMedicare.IfyouhaveMedicareandhavelimitedincomeand
resources,youmayqualifyforextrahelppayingforprescriptiondrugs.
Whatdo need to know?
I
• Ifyourannualincomeisbelow$14,355forasingleperson(or$19,245ifyouare
marriedandlivingwithyourspouse),youmayqualifyforextrahelp.Slightly
higherincomelevelsmayapplyifyouprovideV2supporttootherfamilymembers
livingwithyou,orifyouworkorresideinAlaskaandHawaii.
• Andifyourresources(includingyoursavingsandstocks,butnotcountingyour
homeorcar)areunder$11,500(forasingleperson)orunder$23,000(fora
marriedcouple)youmayqualifyforextrahelppayingforyourMedicare
prescriptiondrugcosts.
• YoucanapplyforthisextrahelpthroughtheSocialSecurityAdministrationor
yourStateMedicalAssistanceOffice.SocialSecurityismailingtheapplication
forextrahelptothosewhomayqualify.Ifyoureceiveanapplication,fillitout
andreturnitintheenclosedpostagepaidenvelope.
• Theamountofextrahelpyougetdependsonyourincomeandresources.
• YoustillneedtojoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplanforMedicaretopayfor
yourdrugcosts.
• YoucanjoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplanfromNovember15,2005
throughMay15,2006.IfyoujoinbyDecember31,2005,yourcoveragebegins
January1,2006.IfyoujoinafterJanuary1,2006,yourcoveragestartsthefirst
dayofthemonthafterthemonthyoujoin.
• Ifyouqualifyforextrahelp,youwillhavecontinuousdrugcoverageandwill
payonlyasmallamountforyourprescriptions.
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How do get more information?
I
Formoreinformationonwhocangetextrahelpwithprescriptiondrugcostsand
howtoapply,calltheSocialSecurityAdministrationat1-800-772-1213,orvisit
www.socialsecurity.govontheweb.TTYusersshouldcall1-800-325-0778.
YouwillreceivedetailedinformationfromMedicareaboutyourchoiceof
MedicareprescriptiondrugplansinOctober2005.Youcanlookatthe"Medicare
&You2006"handbook,visitwww.medicare.govontheweborcall
1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227).TTYusersshouldcall1-877-486-2048.
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CMSPub.No.11105
May2005
•U.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice:2005—753-153