| Elder Care Q&A October, 2005 |
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Medicaid & Your Home |
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| Elder Care Q&A October, 2005 |
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Medicaid & Your Home |
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Q: Have the new Medicare Drug Plans Arrived? A: Yes, the new Medicare prescription drug plans are here. The drug benefit does not begin until January 1, 2006, but now is the time to look over the private plans that will be offered in your area. If your Medicare cards says Part A and/or Medicare Part B, you are eligible for a drug plan---no matter what your income or assets, regardless of any pre-existing condition or amount of drug expenses. Over the summer, the Social Security Administration sent out letters to seniors with limited incomes to let them know how to take advantage of financial support for the Medicare Part D drug plans. If you received such a letter and threw it out, or never got one, you can apply for financial aid by calling 1-800-772-1213. In October, everyone on Medicare will be mailed their Medicare & You 2006 booklet, which will list drug plans in your area. Around October 13th, you will be able to compare these drug plans. Remember, all these drug plans are private, but are approved by Medicare. You can compare plans on the internet at www.medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE..That number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. . From November 15th to May 15th, there will be a six month “open enrollment” period to join a drug plan. You are not required to join a plan, but if you join after May 15, 2006, you will pay a higher premium. Everyone who wants drug coverage, including low-income seniors, must join a plan. If you are a MassHealth member, or in the state’s Prescription Advantage program, the state will automatically enroll you in a drug plan if you don’t sign up for one--but you can change to another plan if you prefer. MassHealth will not provide drug coverage after January 1, 2006. If you are in a nursing home, you will still get your drugs through the facility. If you get drug coverage through your employer or as their retiree, or through a union, your benefits administrator should send you information by November 14th that will help you compare how much your costs are with your current plan, versus what your costs would be with Medicare drug coverage. You may not need both. If you signed up for the temporary Medicare drug discount card program, those cards end on May 15, 2006, or sooner if you sign up for a new Medicare drug plan. If you are currently in a “Medicare + Choice” plan, these companies will be notifying you this month about their new drug benefits. Anyone already in a medigap plan that covers drugs can stay in that plan, but if you join a Medicare drug plan, you must drop the medigap drug plan, and switch to a medigap plan without drugs. You can join a Medicare drug plan,or a Medicare Advantage plan, which also covers your doctor and hospital care.You can get free help in making this decision from the SHINE Program (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) in your area. To find your local SHINE program, call 1-800-AGE INFO and press “2”. |