Valley seniors can save thousands with Medicare D

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

alcorn@vindy.com

A Mahoning County woman living on $500 a month qualified for Medicare’s Part D low-income subsidy, or “extra help” program — and saved $4,000 a year on her prescription drug costs.

“That’s huge for her,” said Lisa Solley, chief of community relations, wellness and training for Area Agency on Aging 11, which conducted the Part D benefits check-up session this year, at which the woman learned the good news.

In addition, under “extra help,” recipients cannot fall victim to the so-called “doughnut hole,” a gap in coverage that can cost unsuspecting seniors thousands of dollars; and they can change their Part D drug plan anytime, not just during the annual re-enrollment period of Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.

“I want people to know about that program,” said Solley.

There are a lot of elderly, low-income people in the agency’s service area of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties who may be eligible.

“We will fill out the application for free — just call the agency.”

It’s not just low-income residents who can potentially benefit from help in choosing a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, she said.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com