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Help someone save up to $3,600 on prescription drug costsSSA Publication No. 05-10505, August 2008, [View .pdf] (En EspaƱol) (other languages) |
Do you know someone who needs help with prescription costs? Now, you can help someone you care about apply for extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs. Anyone who has Medicare can get Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. Extra help is available for some people with limited income and resources. It will pay for all or most of the monthly premiums and annual deductibles and lower the prescription co-payments related to their plan. The extra help could be worth up to $3,600 per year. Many people with limited income and resources qualify for these big savings and don’t even know it. To find out if someone is eligible, Social Security will need to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than their home). If they are married and living with their spouse, we will need this information for both of them.To qualify for extra help they must have:
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Getting startedSocial Security developed an online application you can complete to help Medicare beneficiaries apply for extra help. The worksheet below can assist you in helping them complete the application for extra help. The worksheet is not an application. Ask whoever you are helping to:
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Documents that will help your loved ones prepare in advance
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State agencies may be able to help with Medicare costsMedicare Savings Programs help people with limited income and resources pay for their Medicare expenses. If whoever you are helping pays a premium for Medicare Part A, the Medicare Savings Programs may pay it for them. The help they get from the Medicare Savings Programs can save them more than $1,100 a year. If you think they might be able to get help from their State with Medicare costs, or if you are not sure, call their State medical assistance (Medicaid) office or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. |
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How you can get more informationFor more information about getting extra help with your Medicare prescription drug costs visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can help someone apply online for extra help. To help them apply by phone or get an application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Social Security representatives are available to help you complete the application. To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE ( 1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). Medicare also can tell you about agencies in your area that can help you with Medicare prescription drug plans. |
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Please complete the worksheet below. We need to know information about their (and their spouse’s, if they are married and living together) income and resources: |
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