Medicare Opens Window for Senior Citizens to Change
Drug Plans; Closes End of Year
Seniors with limited resources may be eligible for
extra help to pay monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription
co-payments
By Oscar Garcia Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration
Nov. 17, 2008 - The open season for enrollment in
the Medicare Part D prescription drug program opened on November 15 and
will run to December 31. Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries and
current beneficiaries, who are considering changes to their Medicare
Part D plan, can do so during this period.
The Medicare Part D prescription drug program is
available to all Medicare beneficiaries to help with the costs of
medications.
Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is
voluntary, and participants pay an additional monthly premium for the
coverage.
While all Medicare beneficiaries can participate in
the prescription drug program, some people with limited income and
resources also are eligible for extra help to pay for monthly premiums,
annual deductibles and prescription co-payments.
To figure out whether you are eligible for the
extra help, Social Security needs to know your income and the value of
any savings, investments and real estate (other than the home you live
in).
To qualify you must be receiving Medicare and also
have income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a
married couple living together.
Your resources must be limited to $11,990 for an
individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources
include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count
your house or car as resources.
You can complete an easy-to-use online application
for yourself or someone you care about at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Click on Medicare on the top right side of the page. To apply for the
extra help by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social
Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Editor's Note:
Oscar Garcia is a Public Affairs Specialist with
the Social Security Administration. You can also email him at
oscar.h.garcia@ssa.gov.
>> This link is
to the main Open Enrollment Page at Medicare.gov, which has links to all
the enrollment information and tools. CLICK
HERE
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