People with Medicare can choose to sign up for prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D. Medicare-eligible individuals may voluntarily enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), regardless of income, health, or the manner in which they are now paying for their prescriptions.
Steps to Take:
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Contact the Social Security Administration to see if you qualify for the
Extra Help
program. If so, you can sign up with a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) with little or no monthly fees and only a small payment (co-pay) for each prescription. People in the Extra Helpprogram will have no gap or "doughnut hole" in their Medicare prescription drug coverage. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit Social Security online at:
www.socialsecurity.gov
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Most people who join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, after paying a monthly premium, will be responsible for 100% of their drug costs between $2,830 and $6,440. This gap in Medicare drug coverage that many people will face is referred to as the "donut hole". The GAPS program will provide state pharmacy assistance to seniors when their drug costs reach the donut hole. GAPS will pay 40% of the cost of the covered drugs during the donut hole, and the Medicare recipient will pay 60%.
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Make a list of your prescription drugs, the drug strengths, and the dosages. Contact your local Senior Center OR the
Lt. Governor's Office on Aging OR Medicare (1-800-633-4227) to get help finding the right prescription drug plan for you. Let them know if you qualify for Medicare's Extra Help program (see number 1 above) or if you are receiving Medicaid benefits. You can also use the Internet to find the PDP that is right for you! Just go to
www.medicare.gov. On the right side of the Medicare Website, choose "
Compare Prescription Drug Plan" and follow the instructions given.
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Choose one of the prescription drug plans identified for you. If the plan costs too much for you, then find out if there is a less expensive plan that covers most of the drugs prescribed for you or the most expensive drugs that you need.
Things to Remember:
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Annual open enrollment for Medicare Part D occurs annually November 15th through December 31st. After open enrollment ends, S. C. GAPS-eligible individuals have a one-time only opportunity, during the calendar year, to change from their current Prescription Drug Plan to another PDP.
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If you are new to Medicare, then you can enroll in a Medicare Part D plan from three months before you turn 65 to three months after you turn 65.
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If you already have prescription drug insurance, make sure you have a letter from your insurance company that states your drug coverage is as good as the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program.
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Choosing the right Part D plan helps with paying for prescriptions that you take now. Also, you may need additional and more expensive prescriptions later. If that occurs, then it will be important to have Medicare Part D coverage.
If Medicaid and Medicare-Eligible:
If you are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and are having problems getting your medications, call the SC Department of Health and Human Services at
1-888-549-0820.
