9. How on earth can my parents afford everything they need? They saved money for retirement, but the cost of their health care is really high.

You are not alone in worrying about how much everything costs. Health care expenses can be crushing, even for middleclass families who thought they had saved enough. Your parents may be eligible for some health care benefits. People on fixed incomes who have limited resources may qualify for Medicaid, a program of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a Federal agency. CMS covers the costs of health care for people of all ages who meet income requirements and who are disabled. Because the guidelines change often, you should check with CMS regularly.

Medicare offers insurance for prescription drugs. For information about this coverage, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a national program offering one-on-one counseling and assistance to people and their families on Medicare. SHIPs provide free counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on a wide range of Medicare, Medicaid, and Medigap matters. To find your State program, visit www.shipusa.org.

If prescription medications cost too much, talk to the doctor about the possibility of prescribing a less expensive medication. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance can provide a list of patient assistance programs supported by pharmaceutical companies.

The Resources section of this booklet has information on how to contact these organizations.

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