| A publication of Pine Tree Legal Assistance |
Summer 2005
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Coming Soon - Implementation Starting Now
The following article appeared in the May 2005 edition of CABN Fever. Click on the CABN Fever link
On January 1, 2006, for the first time, Medicare will offer a limited prescription drug benefit referred to as Medicare Part D. Many Medicare beneficiaries will have to pay towards their prescription costs. For low and moderate income Medicare beneficiaries, however, there is a low income subsidy program that will cover many of the out of pocket expenses. Some people will receive this subsidy automatically; others will have to apply.
Who's automatically eligible for the low-income subsidy?
People who are currently receiving Medicaid and Medicare (known as people who are "dually eligible")
and People eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs, which pay the Part B premiums, deductibles and copayments. (More information on the eligibility criteria for the Medicare Savings Programs is available on the Connecticut Legal Services elder law website at www.ctelderlaw.org at the Government Benefits link.)
In the next few months, the Social Security Administration and the Connecticut Department of Social Services will be notifying beneficiaries of this new prescription plan and their possible eligibility for the low income subsidy on the following schedule:
IN JUNE:
CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) notifies Medicare beneficiaries who are automatically eligible for the low-income subsidy that they do not have to apply for the subsidy. People who will get this notice include people with full Medicaid benefits, people who qualify for Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB., and QI) and people with SSI who do not get health care through Medicaid. SSA (Social Security Administration) will send out information to other beneficiaries it has identified as potentially eligible for the subsidy but who need to apply. It is extremely important for all Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for this low income prescription subsidy to apply.
IN THE FALL:
DSS (Connecticut Department of Social Services) will send notices to the "dually eligible" notifying them that they will be losing their Medicaid prescription coverage effective January 1, 2006, and instead will be enrolled in Medicare Part D plan. For more information, go to Center for Medicare Advocacy, or call CHOICES at 1-800-994-9422 or Statewide Legal Services at 1-800-453-3320.