Medicare beneficiaries whose income falls within certain guidelines set forth by CMS, the federal agency that administers the Medicare prescription drug program, may qualify for extra help. Eligibility is determined by the beneficiaries' annual income and assets. (Assets include savings and stock holdings, but not homes or cars.) If you don't know what level of extra help you qualify for, please refer to the section "How do I apply for extra help?" below for more information.

You can get personalized information at www.medicare.gov on the web or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can provide you with free health insurance counseling. You maybe able to access assistance with enrolling in a Part D plan from a local community-based organization.

yes a program called the "Medicare Part D Co-payment Assistance Program" is available to dually-eligible individuals in Kansas. Contact your Benefits Specialist to find out more about this program.

A.If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for certain programs that help with medical expenses. These services include Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and other federal, state, and local programs. To find out about these programs and how to qualify, contact your State Medical Assistance office. The government is also providing extra help with prescription drug costs. People with limited income and resources can take advantage of reduced premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

When you get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you pay part of the cost and Medicare pays part of the costs. You pay a monthly fee or premium for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. If you have Medicare Part B, the Part D premium is in addition to your monthly Part B premium. If you belong to a Medicare Advantage Plan, the monthly premium you pay to the plan may increase if you add prescription drug coverage. Your costs will vary depending on which plan you choose.

Prescription Drug Benefits will be added to Medicare in 2006. All people with Medicare will be able to enroll in plans that cover prescription drugs. Plans might vary, but in general, this is how they will work: Medicare will pay 75% of drug costs between $250 and $2,250 in drug spending. You will pay only 25% of these costs. Extra help will be available for people with low incomes and limited assets.

Medicare prescription drug coverage is insurance that covers both brand-name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies in your area. Medicare prescription drug coverage provides protection for people who have very high drug costs or from unexpected prescription drug bills in the future.

Many people with limited income and assets will qualify for extra help with paying for their prescriptions. The extra help may cover the drug plan's monthly premium and/or some of the drug co-payments or co-insurance amounts. People with the lowest incomes and fewest assets will receive the most help. For more information on how to get extra help with prescription drug costs and how to apply, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web.

Premiums and out-of-pocket costs vary based upon the plan that you choose and the drugs that you take. For the most up-to-date information on premiums and out-of-pocket costs for Medicare prescription drug coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with a counselor or visit www.medicare.gov.

Yes, but if you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and want Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must enroll in a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan - one that includes both medical and prescription drug benefits. No. If you choose to enroll in the Blue Medicare HMO Medical only plan that does not include prescription drug coverage, federal regulations prohibit you from purchasing a separate Medicare prescription drug plan as a separate policy or from another company.

Between November 15 and December 31 of each year, you can select a new Part D plan. The change will be effective January 1 of the following year. If you didn't join a Medicare prescription drug plan before May 15, 2006, you will pay a higher premium unless you already have drug coverage that, on average, is at least as good as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage (through an employer or union, for example).

You must apply through the Social Security Administration. If you qualify for extra help, you still need to join a Medicare prescription drug plan for Medicare to pay for your drug costs.

You may elect to drop your Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) and enroll in a Today's Options Medicare Advantage or Today's Options Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan between November 15, 2007 and December 31, 2007. We have three plan options that include both medical benefits and prescription drug coverage: Today's Options Basic Plus, Value Plus, and Premier Plus plans.

If you currently have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), you can join a Medicare prescription drug plan between November 15, 2005, and May 15, 2006. If you join by December 31, 2005, your Medicare prescription drug plan coverage will begin on January 1, 2006. If you join after that, your coverage will be effective the first day of the month after the month you join.

Coventry has partnered with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to provide a comprehensive tool to help you identify whether or not you qualify for these services. Simply log on to http://www.benefitscheckup.org to begin. In addition, some people with an income at or below a set amount and with limited assets (including their savings and stocks, but not counting their home) will qualify for extra help.

Throughout 2005, Medicare will provide you more information about Medicare prescription drug plans, including how to choose and join a drug plan that best meets your needs. In the fall of 2005, the �Medicare & You 2006� handbook will list the Medicare prescription drug plans available in your area, and you will be able to get personalized information at this website.

Benefits Check Up and the Social Security Administration each have an online survey that will assist you in determining the best card for you.

Yes, there is help. Many pharmaceutical companies are now participating in Pharmaceutical Company Patient Assistance Programs. These programs are privately administered by individual pharmaceutical companies, require an application process, and are often based on income eligibility.

This program provides prescription drug coverage for all persons with Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B.  Coverage may help lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future.  The Prescription Drug Program is offered by private plans and participation is voluntary.

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage for everyone with Medicare, called Medicare Part D. To receive Medicare prescription drug coverage, an individual must choose a Medicare drug plan and pay a monthly premium. These plans are offered by insurance and other private companies approved by Medicare. top

Talk to a family member, friend, or other caregiver to help you decide what drug coverage meets your needs. You may also Call Fox Rx Care at 1-888-Fox-RxRx (1-888-369-7979). Our Customer Service team is well-trained to provide the information you need. On our website. You can go to the Enroll Now section of our website and review tools to help compare the savings and benefits our plan. If you want to visit that web page right now, just click here. Visit www.medicare.

Even if you do not use many prescription drugs now, you should still consider joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Medication costs continue to rise each year -- dramatically, in some cases. As you age and your prescription needs change, your reliance on prescription drugs and expenses may increase. In addition, for most people, joining as soon as they are eligible means they will pay a lower monthly premium than if they wait to join at a later date.

established by CMS, if you do not join a Medicare Part D plan when you first become eligible, you may have to pay a 1% penalty for each month you delay. The penalty will be added to your monthly premium. The best way to avoid additional fees is to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan in the three months before or after the month of your 65th birthday or as soon as you become eligible under certain special circumstances.

Yes. You can switch to AdvantraRx during the Annual Election Period from 11/15/07 to 12/31/07. Under special circumstances, such as if you move out of your current plan’s service area or lose other group coverage, you can switch to AdvantraRx immediately as long as you are eligible. Your other Medicare Part D coverage will be cancelled as soon as your AdvantraRx coverage goes into effect.

No. Enrolling in a plan is your choice. However, the longer you wait, the higher your penalty will be.

In January 2006, Medicare began offering comprehensive outpatient prescription drug coverage to beneficiaries. Private insurance companies work with Medicare to offer these drug plans. Medicare prescription drug plans provide insurance coverage for prescription drugs. Like other insurance, if you join, you will pay a monthly premium and pay a share of the cost of your prescriptions. Costs will vary depending on the drug plan that you choose.