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ATTENTION ALL MEDICARE RECIPIENTS AND CAREGIVERS:
Medicare is offering insurance coverage for
prescription drugs through Medicare
prescription drug plans. Insurance companies and other private
companies will work with
Medicare to offer these plans. These plans will help you save
money on your prescription
costs.
In order to get this prescription coverage,
you must choose and enroll in a Medicare
Prescription drug plan that meets your needs. Here's how you
can get advantage of this new
coverage:
- Look over your current health insurance
coverage. Are prescription drugs covered? What
are your out of pocket costs?
- Keep a list of the name, dosage, and cost
of the prescriptions you use. Since different
plans will cover different drugs, this will help you choose
a plan that meets your
prescription needs.
- If you have a limited income, you may
qualify to get extra help paying for a Medicare
Prescription drug plan. Millions of people will qualify
for a Medicare prescription drug plan
with little or no premiums or deductibles, and low co-payments.
This application for extra
help is available through the Social Security Administration.
- If you have prescription drug coverage
through a former employer or union, check with
your benefits administrator. Medicare prescription drug
coverage may be different for you.
If you don't use a lot of prescription drugs now, you still
should consider joining. As we
age, most people need prescription drugs to stay healthy.
For most people, joining now
means you will pay a lower monthly premium than if you wait
to join until later.
Who can join?
Anyone with Medicare Part A and/or B can join a Medicare prescription
drug plan
offered in their area. If you are in a Medicare Advantage
Plan (like an HMO or PPO), your
plan may also offer drug coverage.
When can I join?
You can join a plan anytime. Your coverage will begin the
first day of the month after
the month you join.
How much does it cost?
Like other insurance, if you join, you will pay a monthly
premium (generally around $37
in 2006) and a yearly deductible (up to $250 in 2006). You
will also pay a part of the cost
for your prescriptions, including a co-payment. Cost will
vary depending on which drug
plan you choose.
How much is Medicare prescription
drug coverage worth?
Find out by using the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Cost
Estimator link below. By
entering your monthly drug costs and the state you live, an
estimate of your annual savings
will be provided if you decide to join a Medicare prescription
drug plan.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Cost Estimator
How can I get more information?
- Call your Pathmark Pharmacy; our Pharmacists are available
to assist you with
questions and answers about the Medicare prescription drug
program.
- Contact Social Security by phone 1-800-325-0778 or visit
their website at:
www.ssa.gov
- Contact Medicare by phone 1-800-MEDICARE or visit w w
w.medicare.go v . Medicare
can also provide the telephone number for your State Health
Insurance Assistance Program
(SHIP).
- Contact PAAD or Senior Gold by phone 1-800-792-9745 or
visit w w w.njpaad.gov or
www.njsrgold.gov (New Jersey residents ONLY).
- Visit the "My Medicare Matters" website - My
Medicare Matters is a new,
comprehensive national education program to help people
with Medicare and their families
understand the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage,
assess their personal situation,
understand their choices, compare plan options, and make
the enrollment decision that is
right for their health and financial situation. The National
Council on the Aging (NCOA) and
the Access To Benefits Coalition (ABC) sponsor My Medicare
Matters, with support from
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
Links to the website are as
follows:
English language website at: http://www.MyMedicareMatters.org
Spanish language website at: http://www.MiMedicareImporta.org
Major
Medicare Prescriptions Drug Plans accepted at Pathmark:
AARP
Aetna
Anthem
Blue Cross Blue Shield DE
Caremark
Catalyst
CIGNA
Claimspro
Community Care Rx
Coventry
Express Scripts
First Health
Health Net
Health Trans
HIP
Horizon
Humana
Maxor
Member Health
NMHCRx
Oxford
Pharmacare
Prescription Pathways
Prescription (Rx) Solutions
Prime Therapeutics
Regence Group
Script Save
Script Care
Silver Scripts
Simply Rx
Sure Script
SXC
Unicare
United Healthcare
Wellpoint
Wise Rx
WHI
Yourx
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