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Medicare Information
Apprise Health Insurance Counseling Medicare Prescription Plans
Property Tax Reform and PACE Plus Medicare
Apprise Health Insurance Counseling Medicare Prescription Plans
Other Opportunities to enroll in Medicare prescription drug plans: Persons going on Medicare can enroll in the new Medicare prescription plans 3 months before they get Medicare, the month Medicare starts and 3 months after Medicare starts. It is necessary to have received your Medicare card to enroll.
A person who loses prescription coverage that was creditable, like PACENET, has 63 days to enroll in a Medicare D plan. November 15 thru December 30 of each year is open enrollment in a Medicare drug plan for January of the next year. If you did not have creditable drug coverage, there will be a higher premium based on the length of time you waited to enroll.
Enrolling in plans for Medicare Prescription Coverage began 11/15/2005. People with PACE or PACENET do not need to enroll in a plan, unless they we eligible for full Extra Help to pay the premiums. If eligible for this extra help, wait to choose a plan until PACE informs us which plans they will be working with.
Persons eligible for full Extra Help will have no premiums, and low copes, and no deductible. Those eligible for partial Extra Help, will have lower premiums, lower co-pays and up to $50.00 deductible.
If you are on medical assistance, you will be assigned a plan for January 1, 2006, if you do not choose one yourself. When they assign one, you will need to make sure it can be used at your drugstore and that your prescriptions are covered.
If you have VA, TRICARE or other employer insurance that is as good as Medicare's (you will get a letter from your insurance telling you if it is creditable), you will not need to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Plan.
If you do not have insurance, or are losing yours, then you need to enroll in PACE or PACENET (if you are eligible), or choose a plan from Medicare. We suggest you check with your drugstore to see which plans they are going to use.
There will also be managed care plans with prescription coverage available in Jefferson County. This choice would replace your supplemental plan and would work with a network of providers for your care. There are advantages and disadvantages to these. The choices in our county will be Highmark Freedom Blue, UPMC for Life, Humana, Unison Advantage. These are on page 94 of your Medicare book. Call the plan for more information.
For assistance with your health insurance questions, feel free to call an Apprise Counselor at 1-800-783-7067.
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Property Tax Reform and PACE Plus Medicare
The new law signed by Governor Rendell delivers the largest property tax cut in state history - $1 billion annually. The bill will provide relief to all homeowners, and "especially seniors who have been driven from their homes as they attempt to escape the burden of skyrocketing property taxes."
Another new law signed by Governor Rendell creates the nation's most comprehensive prescription assistance program, known as PACE Plus. It combines the popular Lottery-funded PACE/PACENET program with the Federal Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. Older Pennsylvanians will pay less for their prescription medication under PACE Plus than seniors in any other state offering a similar benefit.
PACE/PACENET will "wrap around" the Medicare Part D program and fill the gaps in coverage, including when consumers reach the so-called "doughnut hole" in the federal coverage. By allowing the federal government to pick up part of the tab for providing prescription assistance, the measure allows nearly $170 million in Lottery funds to be used to support other services for older adults. PACE/PACENET cardholders will be notified by mail about changes in the program. There will be no interruption of benefits and every enrollee will continue to get the medications they need.
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