CMA Weekly Alert
June 19. 2009
I. Introduction
This Weekly Alert focuses on programs that help Medicare beneficiaries acquire necessary medications, although many of the programs discussed are not limited to that population. Due to the recent economic downturn, millions of Americans are looking for ways to cut costs. Unfortunately, some have been forced to make the choice between their prescription medications and other essentials. One recent survey found that one American in five has gone without medications, split pills or skipped doses in an effort to save money. In doing so, they may be risking their health and possibly their lives.
Advocates and beneficiaries should be aware that there are programs that offer direct subsidies to pay for medications as well as those that provide free or discounted medications; the amount of assistance varies from program to program. Some assistance programs may have income limits or other requirements, but many have eased requirements due to the recession, even as they have seen an increase in applicants. Applicants should have all of the information necessary to fill out the application assembled and provide all requested information to decrease the likelihood of being denied and having to reapply. Applicants for assistance may need the following documents:
• Most recent income tax return and, if employed, recent pay stubs
• If unemployed, a letter or other document from former employer stating that you have been terminated and your health insurance has stopped
• Bank statements from several recent months
• Statements regarding any investments
• Information on accumulated medical debt, which may affect eligibility
The resources listed below include programs that can act as a supplement to Medicare Part D, and some that operate independent of Part D. The monetary value of assistance provided by programs that operate independently of Part D cannot count toward out-of-pocket costs for Part D; in other words, assistance from independent programs will not count toward meeting the deductible or the initial coverage limit, or toward getting through the donut hole to be entitled to catastrophic coverage.[2] A full document with details relating to each segment of this Alert, including toll free numbers and URLs for specific programs, is available at http://www.medicareadvocacy.org/PrescDrugs_09_06.18.AssistancePrograms.htm.
II. Part D Low Income Subsidy Read the rest of this entry »
