Bob Inglis

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Medicare Part D

Prescription Drug Coverage

I’m sure you’ve been bombarded with information regarding this complex plan. I’m hoping the following information will help you make sense of your particular situation within the new Medicare Part D drug plan.

Enrollment and Coverage

Enrollment began on November 15, 2005 and will end on May 15, 2006. In order to have your coverage begin January 1, 2006, you must have signed up on or before December 15, 2005. After May 15, 2006, you may still sign up for the program (in November 15, 2006- December 31, 2006) but there will be a penalty at that time if you were eligible but did not enroll.

Eligibility

Do you currently have Medicare? If yes, then you are eligible for Part D. If you are not currently enrolled in Medicare, then you are not eligible for Part D.

Costs

This is where it can get confusing. Each plan has its own premium, deductible and co-payment scale. In South Carolina, there are 45 different plans to choose from, so you can find the medicines you need with a cost that works best for you and your budget. You should have received information on all available plans in the mail. If not, please call 1-800-MEDICARE

Help

From sorting through the basic information to finding the right plan for you and enrolling, there are many places you can go for help as you sort through this decision.

• 1-800-MEDICARE – After entering in your information (i.e. Medicare number, etc.), you will be connected with a Medicare specialist who can handle a variety of questions and tasks. They can answer basic questions about the plan, can search the plans available to you for the drugs you currently take, can help you compare plans, and can enroll you in a plan.
• www.medicare.gov – There is a “Formulary Finder,” a tool to compare plans (with a demonstration available) and the ability to enroll in a plan, once you’ve chosen one. The “Formulary Finder” allows you to enter in all the drugs you currently use and see the plans that carry those drugs.
• Appalachian Council of Governments’ Agency on Aging (864-242-9733) – This agency is available to assist you with signing up for a Medicare Part D plan.
• Individual Providers – When you have decided on a plan, you can contact the provider and they will help you apply, whether by paper application, over the phone or online.

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