Extra Eldercare Help for Prescription Drugs

prescription medication, medicare help, prescription help

by Mary Jane Stern

The Medicare Prescription Drug program gives you a choice of different plans with different coverage and cost.  Medicare estimates that the extra help can be worth up to $3,900 per year.

The extra help can help you pay for:

  • Monthly premiums
  • Annual deductibles
  • Co-payments

But, you must be enrolled in the Medicare Part D program to get this extra help, and you must meet eligibility requirements:

  • You have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
  • You have Medicare Part B
  • You are enrolled in Medicare Part D
  • You live in one of the 50 USA States or District of Columbia
  • Your combined savings, investments, real estate are not more than $25,010, if you are married or $12,510 if you are currently not married or living with your spouse

Social Security Administration (SSA) has an on-line form that you can complete and you can find this form at http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp.  There is also another form available to find out if you qualify for this extra help.  SSA takes you step-by-step to complete the form.

Of course you can always call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to speak to a representative.  TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

SSA Special Request

SSA has posted on their website a request to help them find Medicare beneficiaries who might qualify for extra help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. SSA is asking family members, caregivers and third parties to help anyone who might qualify apply for the extra help. If you know a Medicare beneficiary who might qualify or if you think you might qualify yourself, visit SSA’s electronic leaflet for more information.

Another great resource is The Access to Benefits Coalition.  This organization can help you learn about and enroll in Medicare’s Prescription Drug program.  They offer help either on-line or in person and the best part it is free.

They have a great tool on their website to help you find additional benefits.  There are four different benefit checkup tools:

  • State and Local Benefits
  • Medicare Rx Extra Help
  • Help Paying for Food
  • Eldercare Assistance

The Access to Benefits Coalition is located in Washington, D.C. and you can contact them by calling 202-479-6670 or email them at info@accesstobenefits.org.

Finances, Mary Jane Stern, Medicare/Medicaid
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  1. without prescription
    You have alot of great resources here. The first step for seniors is to find out exactly what coverage they have and what they can receive. Often times, they slip through the cracks from simply not knowing.
    September 1, 2009
  2. Cynthia
    Your MessageWhat an interesting blog! I've been looking elder and senior care and keep coming across issues involving denture creams and neurological problems. It seems that some popular creams are involved and lawsuits are beginning to be filed. I found a site that is sponsored, I believe, by an attorney group, but that has some good health and legal information: http://www.denturecreamlawyer.com/ I hope this is of help to your readership.
    September 4, 2009
  3. Kaye
    Good information. When we moved across country my senior mom had to change from an HMO with drug coverage to traditional medicare with an supplement AND a drug coverage, just as that program was being implemented. We were advised that we needed to add some kind of drug coverage (any one would do), so that if she ever needed it, we would have it. They explained we could change to better coverage during open enrollment, if we ever needed it, but if we didn't have anything, we couldn't later add it. Good advice, which we made sure we followed. :)
    September 4, 2009