by Disability Linkage Line
Staff
It’s
time to review your Medicare prescription drug coverage for 2008
to make sure you are in the plan that best meets your needs, and
to see if you will continue to receive the Extra Help with prescription
costs.
Q: I already have a Medicare prescription drug plan. Do I need to
do anything before 2008 arrives?
A: YES! Everyone enrolled
in a plan will soon receive an Annual Notice of Change from their
current plan. Read this information carefully. Look for changes
in costs, benefits and drugs that are covered. Just because your
plan was the best plan for you in 2007 does not necessarily mean
it is still the best plan for you in 2008. If nothing changed and
you’re satisfied with your current plan, you do not need
to do anything to stay in the plan. If you want to change your plan,
open enrollment begins November 15, 2007, and ends December 31, 2007.
People who are on both Medicare and Medical Assistance can enroll
and change plans anytime throughout the year.
People who are getting
Extra Help for the Medicare prescription drug costs—and
do not want to pay any plan premium—need
to choose a plan that is a “benchmark plan.” For 2008,
there will be sixteen benchmark plans. Keep in mind, there are
four plans that were benchmark plans in 2007 that will not be benchmark
plans in 2008. You should research all plan options and find the
best plan to cover your drug needs. To compare plans you can go
online at www.medicare.gov, or call the Disability Linkage Line
(DLL).
Q: Will I receive the same Extra Help with prescription drug costs
next year?
A: In 2007, people who
automatically qualified for Extra Help were Medicare enrollees
who were on at least one of the following programs: Medical Assistance
(MA), Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI-1) and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI). If you are still on one of these programs
you will continue to automatically qualify for the help. However,
if your income changed, you might receive a letter on orange paper
letting you know your copays will change for ’08.
If you are no longer in one of these three programs as of July 1,
2007, you will receive a letter from Social Security on gray paper
letting you know that you will need to apply with Social Security
for the Extra Help and qualify based on your income and resources.
You can fill out the application mailed to you or you can expedite
the process by filling it out online at www.ssa.gov. DLL can also
help you fill out this application.
If you currently receive Extra Help, you might receive a reverification
letter (Form 1026) from Social Security. You must fill out this form
to qualify for Extra Help in 2008, even if your income did not change,
and return it within 30 days.
Key tips to help you manage your benefit:
• Keep all of the notices and letters you receive. Take the time
to read them.
• Ask questions.
• If you want or need to make plan changes or apply for the Extra
Help with prescription drugs costs, act now to assure a smooth transition
to 2008.
• If you need help, call the DLL. ![]()
The Disability Linkage
Line (DLL), 1-866-333-2466, provides free, disability-related information
and assistance for Minnesotans (Monday through Friday from 8:30
a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). DLL does not endorse any particular Web
site or provider. They assume no responsibility for transactions
between the readers of this article and listed organizations.
