Am I eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage? |
Medicare prescription drug coverage is available to everyone with Medicare.
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What does the coverage offer? |
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How do the plans work? |
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Can I decide not to join? |
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What if I currently have prescription drug coverage? |
Click on the statement below that applies to you to learn more.
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You get prescription drug coverage from TRICARE |
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You get prescription drug coverage from the Department of Veterans Affairs |
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You have Medicaid |
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You are in a nursing home |
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You get housing assistance from HUD |
If you have Medicare and get housing assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you may want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you qualify for the extra help with paying for your drug plan's monthly premium and for the cost of your prescriptions, you wont lose your housing assistance. However, your housing assistance may be reduced as your prescription drug spending decreases. But please keep in mind that any decrease in your housing assistance will be more than made up for by the value of the extra help paying Medicare prescription drug plan costs. |
You get food stamps |
If you have Medicare and get food stamps, you may want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you do join a plan, you may qualify for extra help paying Medicare prescription drug costs. If you qualify for extra help, your food stamps benefits may decline, but that decline will be more than offset by Medicare's extra help. If you qualify, compare how much your costs are with your current drug coverage to what your costs would be with Medicare prescription drug coverage and the extra help. If you are near the food stamps eligibility cutoff, you may lose your minimum food stamp benefits because you will be paying less for your prescription drugs. But please keep in mind that any decrease in food stamp benefits will be more than made up for by the value of the extra help with paying for your prescription drug costs. |
You have health insurance through a current or former employer or union |
Medicare will help employers or unions continue to provide retiree drug coverage that meets Medicares standards. You should get communications from your employer or union (or the plan that administers your coverage) about how your drug coverage compares to Medicare prescription drug coverage, and how they are intended to work together. Read all materials from your employer or union carefully to be sure you make a good prescription drug coverage decision. They will help you understand your options and make your decision much easier. If you have questions, visit their website, or contact the office listed in their materials. If you arent sure whom to contact, contact your benefits administrator or the office that answers questions about your coverage. |
Your state pharmacy program pays for your prescriptions |
Each state decides how its State Pharmacy Assistance Program works with Medicare prescription drug coverage. Some states give extra coverage when you join a Medicare prescription drug plan. Some states have a separate state program that helps with prescriptions. Contact your State Pharmacy Assistance Program to get more information. |
You are in a Medicare Health Plan (like an HMO, or PPO) |
You are usually required to get your drug coverage from your current health plan if you decide to stay in the plan. Contact your current health plan if you have any questions about your coverage. |
You have Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) |
If you have a Medigap policy with prescription drug coverage, you may want to look at your coverage and see what prescription drugs arent covered or what part of the costs you pay yourself. Most prescription drug coverage offered by Medigap policies, on average, is not at least as good as Medicare prescription coverage. You will generally save money and get better coverage with the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. |
You have Supplemental Security Income benefits or get help from your state Medicaid program paying your Medicare premiums |
You need to join a Medicare drug plan for Medicare to pay for your drugs. You automatically qualify for extra help for your prescription drug costs. If you dont join a plan, Medicare will enroll you in one to make sure you dont miss a day of coverage. |
You get prescription drug coverage from FEHBP |
It will almost always be to your advantage to keep your current coverage without any changes. However, if you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help from Medicare. If you decide to make changes to your current coverage, you should first contact your benefits administrator. You can contact them by calling 1-888-767-6738. If you lose your FEHBP coverage and join a Medicare drug plan, in most cases, you wont have to pay a penalty, as long as you join within 63 days of losing your FEHBP coverage. |