Golden Times
It’s easy to apply online for help with Medicare Drug costs
by Karyl Richson, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Milwaukee
While general enrollment in the new Medicare prescription benefit has ended for 2006, you may enroll in a drug plan without penalty IF you qualify for extra help with Medicare Part D costs.
This extra help, available to people with limited incomes and resources, can pay some or all of your Part D premiums, deductibles and co-payments. The extra help could be worth an average of $3,700 per year.
As a general guideline, to qualify, your annual income (including pensions and gross Social Security benefits) should be below $14,700 for an individual, $19,800 for a married couple living together.
Income may be higher if you or your spouse has earnings from work, support other family members who live with you, or live in Alaska or Hawaii.
In addition, resources must be worth less than $10,000 for an individual, $20,000 for a married couple living together.
Resources include bank accounts, stocks and bonds but not your house and car. Limits may be slightly higher (an additional $1,500 per person) if you plan to use some resources for burial expenses.
You may complete the application for yourself or on behalf of a relative, friend or client.
The fastest and easiest way to get a decision is to file at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp, which has gotten high marks from users.
In a recent survey of e-commerce sites operated by Federal agencies, the online application for extra help tied for first place in customer satisfaction.
If you don’t have access to the Internet, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local Social Security office.
Once you qualify for the extra help, you may enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug program and pay no penalty for 2006. To learn more about drug plans, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov. |
