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Services urges Medicare beneficiaries — call with questions about drug card
By Margie Ware, Elder Services Regional SHINE Coordinator
Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. is advising Medicare beneficiaries, who have received mail concerning enrollment in the Medicare discount card program, to call their local Council on Aging, Elder Services SHINE Program (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders), or in North County, Ecu-Health Care, for guidance about what the appropriate response should be for each individual.
Numerous Medicare beneficiaries in Berkshire County have received letters telling them that they will be enrolled in a randomly selected Medicare discount drug card. In many cases these individuals were already members of Prescription Advantage, and as such, were enrolled this summer in the Public Sector Partners Prescription Discount Card. This new letter causes some confusion about whether they are supposed to change cards.
If elders receiving the letter do NOT have a Medicare prescription drug discount card, and they would qualify for $600 in prescription drug assistance, it is also important to call the Elder Services SHINE program at 1-800-544-5242 or 413-499-0524 ext.109, so it can be determined which card would best fit their needs. Individuals whose incomes are under $12,569, and couples with joint incomes under $16,862, qualify for this “transitional assistance.”
The confusion comes when the individual has already signed up for a discount card that they are using. Elders have been calling Elder Services asking whether they need to re-enroll or change cards.
Individuals who qualify for transitional prescription drug assistance will receive the $600 during calendar years 2004 and 2005. Unused benefits from 2004 can be rolled over into calendar 2005. In January 2006 a new Medicare Part D drug benefit will be in place. Most beneficiaries will pay a $35 per month fee, deducted from their Social Security checks, although low-income beneficiaries will have the fee subsidized by the Federal government.
Medicare beneficiaries should also be aware that some deductible amounts will be changing for calendar year 2005. The Medicare Part B deduction, which is now $66.60 per month, will increase to $78.20. In addition, the deductible for office visits, which had previously stood at $100 for a number of years, will now rise to $110. Individuals with incomes under $1,048 per month and assets less than $4,000 should call the SHINE program about applying for a waiver of their Part B Medicare premium. For couples, the income limit is $1,400 and the asset limit is $6,000. People who qualify for this benefit can realize a large savings, especially considering that the deduction is increasing by 17% in January.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
When Congress reconvenes in January, one of their first agenda items will be the final shaping of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, known as Medicare D. As the SHINE program and Elder Services receive additional information about the impact of Part D on consumers, we will keep you informed.