[oregon-l] Medicare Provides Assistance to Help Low-IncomeBeneficiaries Get Big Savings on Prescription Drug Costs

[John A. Fleming]

Medicare Provides Assistance to Help Low-IncomeBeneficiaries Get Big Savings 
on Prescription Drug Costs


MEDICARE NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   CONTACT:    CMS 
Media Affairs Office

June 4, 2010 
(202) 690-6145



Medicare Provides Assistance to Help Low-Income Beneficiaries Get Big 
Savings on Prescription Drug Costs



Washington DC, June 1, 2010 - More Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for 
"Extra Help" with their prescription drug costs, and be eligible to pay no 
more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for each brand name drug thanks 
to changes to Medicare's Low-Income Subsidy Program (also known as LIS or 
"Extra Help") that take effect this year. These changes make it easier than 
ever for people on Medicare with limited incomes to save on their drug 
costs.



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that "Extra Help" can 
save eligible Medicare beneficiaries as much as $3,900 per year.  It is 
estimated that more than 1.8 million people with Medicare may be eligible 
for "Extra Help," but are not currently enrolled to take advantage of these 
savings.



There is no cost to apply for "Extra Help." Medicare beneficiaries, family 
members,       trusted counselors or caregivers can apply online at 
www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 
1-800-772-1213 (TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the 
Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.



Medicare beneficiaries can also receive assistance in their local 
communities from their

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) online at 
www.medicare.gov/contacts/staticpages/ships.aspx



The donut hole is the period in the prescription drug benefit in which 
beneficiaries generally pay 100 percent of the cost of their drugs until 
they hit the catastrophic coverage.  Beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare 
"Extra Help" do not have a donut hole.



These $250 checks will begin to get mailed out to eligible beneficiaries on 
June 10 and will be sent to beneficiaries soon after they enter the coverage 
gap.  For more information on how to get your rebate check, log on to 
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11464.pdf.



To learn more about Medicare prescription drug coverage, visit 
www.medicare.gov, or call  1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should 
call 1-877-486-2048.



To read the entire CMS press release issued today (6/4) in English and 
Spanish click here: https://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp