Getting Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs

grannynurse FNP student · Mar 25, 2006

information for american indians and alaska natives 2006
ssa publication no. 05-10013, march 2006 icn 451461 [view pdf] social security and the centers for medicare & medicaid services are working together to get you extra help with your prescription drug costs. to determine if you could be eligible for this extra help, social security will need to know your income and the value of your savings, investments and real estate (other than your home). if you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help paying for your monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new medicare prescription drug program that began january 1, 2006.
complete site located here: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10013.htm

are they going to use this information to assist me in paying for my medicare drug policy? or is it just an attempt to gain more information to be used for who knows what?

grannynurse

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Mar 25, 2006

I posted this as informational. It is posted on the NET as a FACT SHEET. Interested members can pursue this information further if they wish.

grannynurse FNP student · Mar 25, 2006

I posted this as informational. It is posted on the NET as a FACT SHEET. Interested members can pursue this information further if they wish.

Sorry if I came across angry but I am. I get $400 to much a year to qualify for any assistance with obtaining my Medicare Part D. And I tend to look on anything they ask for with a suspect eye.

Grannynurse:balloons:

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 26, 2006

these are routines questions. answers determine if one's income level qualifiies you for medical assistance (income level varies per state). dual eligibility, that is having both medicare and medicare qualifies you to have your medicare part b deductible paid.

some states have expanded benefits. i'm always helping people in pa sign up for these "medically needy" programs

states may also, at the state’s option, provide medicaid to:

children under age 21, 20, 19, or under age 19 who are full-time students. if a state doesn’t want to cover all of these children, it can limit eligibility to reasonable groups of these children.
caretaker relatives (relatives or legal guardians who live with and take care of children).
aged persons (age 65 and older).
blind persons (blindness is determined using the ssi program standards or state standards).
disabled persons (disability is determined using the ssi program standards or state standards).
persons who would be eligible if not enrolled in a health maintenance organization.

states that have medically needy programs:

arkansas, hawaii, maine, nebraska, pennsylvania, vermont, california, illinois, maryland, new hampshire, puerto rico, virginia, connecticut, iowa, massachusetts, new jersey, rhode island, washington,dist. of columbia, kansas, michigan, new york, tennessee, west virginia, florida, kentucky, minnesota, north carolina, texas,* wisconsin, georgia, louisiana, montana, north dakota, utah

*the medically needy program in texas covers only the “mandatory" medically needy groups. it does not cover the aged, blind and disabled.

medicare beneficiaries—medicaid pays medicare premiums,

deductibles and coinsurance for qualified medicare

beneficiaries (qmb)—individuals whose income is at or

below 100% of the federal poverty level and whose resources are at or below twice the standard allowed under ssi. there are additional groups for whom medicare related expenses are

paid by medicaid—medicare beneficiaries with income greater than

100% but less than 135% of the federal poverty level.

qualified working disabled individuals—medicaid can pay

medicare part a premiums for certain disabled individuals who

lose medicare coverage because of work. these individuals have

income below 200% of the federal poverty level and resources

that are no more than twice the standard allowed under ssi.

more info on who qualifies for medicaid , including federal poverty level charts by state available here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaideligibility/downloads/medglance05.pdf

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 26, 2006

Whole Medicare section dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/ir.asp

grannynurse FNP student · Mar 26, 2006

Whole Medicare section dedicated to American Indian and Alaska Native:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/ir.asp

What no one appears to appreciate is the fact that 135% above the federal poverty line means having an income of less than $14, 300 per year for most. I have to pay $61.50 per month for my Part D, plus approximately $300 for my medications because several do not have generics available. Plus I have to have the cost of my Medicare taken out. Plus I have to pay more then $800 for my deductible. And heaven help me if I end up in the hospital after April 3rd, it will be another $800 plus deductible because I was readmitted outside the magic 90 day cutoff. And Native Americans are even worse off then I am when it comes to having easily accessible health care and health care benefits. So, please do not laud our government for their 'gifts' to us, the elderly, the disabled, the Native Americans. Next to the uninsured, we are low people on the totem pole.

And if I sound bitter and angry I am. I worked hard for twenty plus years. I contributed to this country. And now I am expected to be grateful for a few crumbs that are thrown my way. Excuse me for my bitterness.

Grannynurse