---------- Forwarded message ---------- Q&A: Medicare drug benefit By Times staff writers Published August 24, 2005
How will the new Medicare drug benefit work? Beginning Jan. 1, people on traditional Medicare can sign up with a private discounter to get prescription drugs at a reduced rate. After a $250 deductible, Medicare will cover 75 percent of the next $2,000 worth of drugs. The beneficiary will pay 100 percent of total costs between $2,250 and $5,100 in one year. Medicare will then pay 95 percent for any costs above $5,100. People in Medicare HMOs will receive coverage through those plans. What will it cost? To qualify, you must pay a new Part D premium of about $32 a month, the $250 annual deductible, plus coinsurance. HMOs and some of the private discount plans may waive some of these out-of-pocket costs. Plus, low-income people may receive subsidies. What happens next? The signup period begins Nov. 15. A month before that, Medicare will send out information on which drugs private insurance plans will cover and costs. The media and Medicare HMOs will step up publicity in October to help consumers choose. Government and advocacy groups will provide advisers as well. Is this a good deal for me? October's information blitz will help answer that question. Even advocates who criticized the program say most people should sign up. Like all insurance, it grows more costly if you don't sign up right away. Who qualifies for help with out-of-pocket costs? Beginning in 2006, people on Medicaid will get their drugs through Medicare. Other low-income people must apply for special assistance. This includes single people with incomes below $14,355 and married couples with incomes below $19,245 - as long as their savings, stocks and bonds do not exceed thresholds. The Social Security Administration will mail out application forms to anyone who asks; authorities recommend you fill out and return the forms immediately. Where can I get more information? For application forms for low-income assistance, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.socialsecurity.gov <http://www.socialsecurity.gov> For general information on the drug plan, call 1-800-633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov <http://www.medicare.gov> Florida's SHINE program at 1-800-963-5337 provides volunteers who can answer questions and help with paperwork. [Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12k32ibei/M=327951.6903888.7846657.1589681/D=grphealth/S=1705061628:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1124994113/A=2896150/R=0/SIG=11dd2v0rf/*http://www.facetheissue.com/depression.html";>Ever feel sad or cry for no reason at all? Depression. Narrated by Kate Hudson</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
