Medicare RX (DADS)

Medicare Rx (also known as Medicare Part D) is a prescription drug benefit which began Jan. 1, 2006, for individuals eligible for Medicare.

This part of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) website is dedicated to providing information about Medicare Rx for DADS consumers, providers and staff.

Helpful links for Medicare Rx

DADS has identified these links as resources for additional information on the prescription drug coverage offered to Medicare beneficiaries. These websites provide information on Medicare Rx that consumers, family members, providers, and state agency staff may find useful. These links have helpful information from federal agencies and national advocacy organizations, including descriptions of Medicare Rx benefits, how to apply for "extra help," drug plan enrollment information, and consumer rights under the Medicare Rx program.

Medicare Part D Plan Finder: This is an interactive tool on the Medicare website which will assist beneficiaries in comparing Medicare Rx drug plans.
Extra Help: The Social Security Administration created this web page to help individuals find out if they qualify for "extra help" for Medicare Rx costs by using the Qualifier Tool.
Medicare.gov: This is the government site for people with Medicare and includes basic information on Medicare topics. It includes a search engine to help navigate the site and also includes a FAQ page. The site links to other resources, as well as to a page that details the prescription drug coverage. Medicare.gov requires some navigating to find the right information, but it can be very useful for individuals who are internet-savvy.
Benefits Checkup: This is a service of the National Council on the Aging and provides consumers with an interactive tool to help find benefits and resources including health care assistance. The site includes a Medicare Card Finder and other resources to help seniors and family members locate needed resources. This site is relatively easy to navigate and is a good information and referral tool for consumers and family members.
Health Assistance Partnership: This website is a project of Families USA and provides assistance to individuals with all levels of health coverage (including Medicare). The site is specifically targeted at consumers, so it will be very helpful for people trying to understand their health coverage and Medicare Rx. It includes information on appeals, eligibility and referrals to consumer healthcare advocacy organizations. The site also has several documents that provide information on eligibility and the application process for the low-income subsidy ("Extra Help"). Information on Medicaid, private health insurance, and other sources of health care assistance is provided on this site, and consumers who are not Medicare beneficiaries should find this site useful.
Center for Medicare Advocacy: The Center for Medicare Advocacy is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that has created this website to help consumers understand the many facets of Medicare. The site contains information on lawsuits and legal issues, and a Medicare Part D page with FAQs and a timetable for current enrollment deadlines and other links.
Medicare Rights Center: The Medicare Rights Center is a consumer advocacy organization that provides both information and advocacy to Medicare beneficiaries. The information on the website can be useful to consumers and the FAQ pages contain detailed explanations and stories of actual Medicare cases. Also on the website is a Medicare Plan Options chart that lets beneficiaries compare the different types of Medicare plans around the country, either in English or Spanish. The site also contains other information on Medicare and consumer rights, and features a "question of the week" and weekly newsletter ("Dear Marci"). This organization also participates in legislative advocacy and the site has links to press releases and other information on the organization’s advocacy efforts.
Senior Health: This site is a basic FAQ site for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries. Although this web page only provides a brief overview, it is a good starting point for consumers who need to know the basics about Medicare Rx.
National Health Law Program: The National Health Law Program helps low-income consumers to receive needed health care information on a variety of topics, including Medicare Rx, on this website.

top of page

Updated:August 21, 2009