SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

July/August 2018 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

GETTING HELP PAYING FOR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for help to pay for some prescription drugs. EXTRA HELP is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drugs. You may qualify for EXTRA HELP if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2018:

• Single person - income less than $18,210 per year and resources less than $14,100
• Married person living with a spouse and no dependents - income less than $24,690 per year and resources less than $28,150

Resources include money in checking or savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and IRA's. Examples of  income: Social Security, interest, dividends and others.

 

If you qualify for EXTRA HELP and join a Medicare drug plan, you will:

• Get help paying your Medicare drug plan's costs
• Have no coverage gap
• Have no late enrollment penalty
• Have the chance to switch plans at any time

You automatically qualify for EXTRA HELP if you have Medicare and full Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

 

If you have employer or union coverage and you join a Medicare drug plan, you may lose your employer or union coverage even if you qualify for EXTRA HELP. Call your employer's benefits administrator before you join a Medicare drug plan.

If you did not qualify for EXTRA HELP, you can apply anytime by visiting socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or calling 1-800-772-1213. To get answers to questions about EXTRA HELP, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-701-0501. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.

 

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services