Medicare Part D
What Is It?
As I have spent time with many of our seniors I find that there is a big mystery
surrounding the Medicare Part D program. How it will work and what is the
benefit to the senior? The fact that the program wasn’t finalized until this
month also added to the mystery. InterServ’s RSVP program will try to help to
get the word out to all of our seniors. We will do speaking engagements,
seminars and use the Lindberg Community Center as a place for everyone to sign
up for the program.
What Do I Need To Know?
To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must choose and enroll in a
Medicare prescription drug plan.
You can first enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan from Nov. 15, 2005
through May 15, 2006.
If you join by December 31, 2005, your coverage will begin January 1, 2006.
If you join, your costs will vary depending on which plan you choose. In
general, you pay a monthly premium (generally around $32 in 2006) and a yearly
deductible up to the first $250 in 2006). You will also pay a share of your
prescription drug costs, and your plan pays a share. Medicare helps pay for
drugs up to a limit ($2250 in total) and once your total out-of-pocket costs for
drugs reach $3,600 you pay 5% of the costs and Medicare pays 95% of the costs
for the rest of the year.
Many people with limited income and resources will get extra help paying for
their prescription drug coverage. People with the lowest incomes and resources
will get the most help. If you are in this group, you should have received
information in the mail this summer from Social Security Administration or from
Medicare telling you what to do.
What If I Already Have Prescription Drug Coverage?
If you already have prescription coverage through your Medicare private health
or other insurance, check with your current plan to see if this coverage is
changing.
Unless you have other drug coverage that is, on average at least as good as
standard Medicare prescription drug coverage, its important for you to join a
Medicare prescription drug plan when you are first eligible. For most people,
joining when first eligible means you will pay a lower monthly premium than if
you wait to join until later.
What Must I Do Now?
The first and most important is to list what prescription drugs you are now
taking. There will be many programs offering different drugs and all might have
what you are taking. The programs are based on what drugs you are now taking; we
will have the ability to match your drug list with a program suited for you.
Where Can I Get More Information?
Your new Medicare 2006 handbook, you can visit
www.medicare.gov on the web or call 1-800-medicare (1-800-633-4227). For
detailed information the Lindberg Community Center will be staffed by trained
volunteers starting November 15th from 9-11 am and from 1-3 pm each day.
InterServ RSVP To Help
Enroll Participants In Medicare Part D
RSVP volunteers have been undergoing training to help with the new Medicare
program. After looking at the program and the benefits to our seniors, RSVP
wanted to help get the word out. We will work out of the Lindbergh Community
Center (On the West side of Lindbergh School) to help all who have questions, need plans, and to enroll you in the plan
of your choice after November 15th.
The Drug Plan is not as confusing as it may look, and we will have one-on-one
help available to help you in the process of choosing a plan and getting signed
up. Our volunteers have already had the Social Security training and are set up
for the state training. The location at Lindbergh Community Center will allow us
access to computers to do the on-line sign up and to determine which plan is
best suited for the medications you are taking. The main thing to have with you
when you come to sign up is a list of all the medications you are now taking,
including dosage and frequency of dosage.
The plans have income help for those with low incomes. We will be able to help
with this also to see if you qualify for Low Income Supplemental help. We will
have all this information for you at the Community Center.
Starting in January 2006
Lindbergh’s hours for signing up for coverage plans will be 9:00 am -11:00 am
every Tuesday and Thursday. Make sure you
have your income information if you want to apply for the low income help
($14,355 and below for single and $19,245 and below for married). Have your
medication list with you this will save time in applying.
Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)
Medicare Drug Coverage 101: Things you need to know about Part D
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