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Expanded Coalition, Website Tool Takes Aim at Helping
Low-Income Senior Citizens Get Drug Discounts
80 Non-Profits, 50 Plus Local Coalitions Join Access
to Benefits Coalition
 Sept. 23, 2004 The Access to
Benefits Coalition (ABC) announced a new Website tool - BenefitsCheckUpRx2.0
and expansion of the organization to include more than
80 national non-profit organizations and over 50 local coalitions
focused on trying to increase the sluggish enrollment of lower income
senior citizens in the Medicare drug discount program, and to help them
find the best combination of public and private prescription savings
programs.
Only 1.3 million of 7 million low-income seniors
have voluntarily signed on to the program, which provides them a
discount card and an additional $600 annual subsidy. Many have blamed
the confusion caused by the complicated program card choices for the
slow enrollment. Access to Benefits will try to help clarify some of the
confusion.
ABC's new online service, BenefitsCheckUp2.0, can
help these lower income Medicare beneficiaries easily determine their
eligibility for more than 340 prescription government and company
savings programs. These include not only Medicare-approved discount
cards and so-called "wrap-around" programs that pay for most or all of
medicine costs once the $600 credit is used up, but also state
prescription savings programs, company patient assistance programs or
discount cards. It also allows them to download applications and begin
the enrollment process.
The service is on the Web at
www.accesstobenefits.org.
Although announced today, the Website has been
operational for weeks before todays announcement. One user emailed
SeniorJournal.com to praise the site. She said she has used it
successfully to help her mother.
I found a discount program from a drug
manufacturer that would provide that drug (expensive drug used by her
mother) at significant savings - from $300 to $15 per month - and she
did not have to pay for a card. It also picked two discount cards that
would help her with savings on other medications. I was able to print
the enrollment form and complete it for her, have her sign and send it
off. The other feature was finding that the pharmacy she usually uses
will accept the prescription discount program we selected, she wrote.
"Our new online service means that anyone,
anywhere, anytime can get help finding the best combination of
prescription savings programs that save lower-income Medicare
beneficiaries the most money," says James P. Firman, Chairman of ABC and
President and CEO of The National Council on the Aging. "The programs
that are currently available to lower-income beneficiaries, including
the Medicare-approved discount cards, are much better than most people
think. We urge beneficiaries and their families to act now to take
advantage of all available savings."
"We applaud the Access to Benefits Coalition for
providing more help to low-income beneficiaries in identifying the most
savings this year and next," says CMS Administrator Mark McClellan. "If
you don't have coverage for prescription drugs, you should be signing up
for a Medicare approved discount card and also exploring additional
savings now."
Based on ABC focus groups and Kaiser Family
Foundation research, many lower income beneficiaries are unaware of all
the state or private company prescription savings programs available,
and too many feel that enrollment is not worth the effort. However,
they believe that trusted, local organizations can best help them
understand what their best options are.
Understanding these challenges and opportunities,
ABC has formed 52 local coalitions in 34 states to educate and enroll
millions of Medicare-eligible seniors and younger persons with
disabilities who need the most help.
While Firman acknowledges that most lower income
Medicare beneficiaries are not regular Internet users, ABC encourages
family members, caregivers or others who work with lower income Medicare
beneficiaries to use the service for them.
"Using the service, you can help someone you know
lower the cost of their medicines," he added. In addition, many of ABC's
52 local Coalitions will use its online service -- BenefitsCheckUpRx 2.0
-- as part of their nationwide enrollment efforts.
To reach out to lower income beneficiaries, the
local coalitions will host local and regional enrollment events, conduct
media outreach and offer telephone assistance. This education and
enrollment effort will help beneficiaries identify the best combination
of prescription savings programs.
According to Firman, Medicare beneficiaries will
benefit the most if they have incomes of less than $19,000 for
individuals and $25,000 for couples. People who have other prescription
drug coverage will not qualify for the prescription savings programs
identified by the online service.
Once users list their medicines, annual income and
a general idea of their assets, ABC's online service will screen their
eligibility for 340 public and private savings programs that cover up to
1,450 medicines. Users will receive an online report on programs for
which they qualify, and they can download and print applications for
more than 250 programs to begin the enrollment process.
More than 5.7 million low-income Medicare
beneficiaries are still eligible for Medicare-approved discount cards
and the $1,200 in credit in 2004-05. Working with the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services and its national nonprofit members, the
Coalition's goal is to significantly increase the number of
beneficiaries taking advantage of prescription savings programs by the
end of 2005.
With the facilitated enrollment of 1.8 million
Medicare Savings Program beneficiaries announced yesterday, and the 1.3
million low-income beneficiaries already signed up, significant progress
in enrollment has already been made. With assistance from its 52 local
Coalitions, ABC hopes to find and enroll many of the remaining 4 million
low-income beneficiaries who have not yet been reached. ABC is also
identifying now low-income people who will be eligible for the new
Medicare Part D subsidy program that begins in 2006.
"Local coalitions will play an important role on
the front line of this outreach effort," Firman said. "Their knowledge
of Medicare beneficiaries in their communities and the trust that
beneficiaries have in them will be invaluable in making this project a
success."
About ABC
The Access
to Benefits Coalition is a partnership of more than 85 national
non-profit organizations and 52 local coalitions dedicated to ensuring
that lower income Medicare beneficiaries know about and can make the
best use of all available resources for saving money on prescription
drugs. Coalition members share a commitment to helping Medicare
beneficiaries who need the most help find the public and private
prescription savings programs they need to maintain their health and
improve the quality of their lives. Reportedly financial resources are
also being contributed on a non-restrictive basis by the government and
private corporations.
Chaired by The National Council on the Aging, it is
led by a Steering Committee, comprised of leaders from AARP, Alzheimer's
Association, NCOA, National Alliance for Hispanic Health and Easter
Seals. For further information, visit www.accesstobenefits.org.
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