MEDICARE

MEDICARE
Prescription drugs
The common questions and answers about the new Medicare drug prescription law.
Q. Is there a cost for the prescription drug cards?
A. Yes. Cards will cost up to $30 a year, depending on the providing company. Cards are free for low-income seniors whose incomes are less than 135 percent of the federal poverty level ($12,123 for single individuals, $16,362 for married couples). Low-income seniors also will receive a $600 annual credit to help cover the cost of prescription medications.
Q. Can seniors have more than one discount drug card program?
A. No.
Q. Can seniors keep a Golden Buckeye card and still participate in the discount drug card program?
A. Yes.
Q. Who is offering the discount drug card programs?
A. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, Medicare managed health programs and traditional health insurers are the main businesses and organizations offering the cards.
Q. Can prices changes under the card program?
A. Yes. It is recommended that seniors find out what a provider's policy is on changing prices.
Q. Can seniors change from one discount drug card to another?
A. Normally, seniors can change only once a year, between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31. If they move outside a plan's service area, or leave a managed-care plan, however, they can also change plans.
Source: SCOPE and Shepherd of the Valley brochure