Hotline helps seniors get Medicare drug plan ‘extra help’
Monday, December 26
- Organization: Senior Legal Hotline
Thousands of California seniors may not be aware they’re eligible for deeply discounted membership in Medicare’s new prescription drug plan. Now through May 15, 2006, staff and volunteers at the Senior Legal Hotline can help callers learn whether they qualify for the “Part D limited-income subsidy” and can submit an application for them – all in a single phone call.
Very low-income seniors who already receive full Medi-Cal benefits – meaning with no “share of cost” – are being automatically enrolled in the discount program and should have received notices to that effect. But many others without full Medi-Cal are also eligible – and they need to
apply in order to receive the discount.
Two groups of people would probably benefit from the Part D extra help and need to apply:
• Individuals with liquid assets less than $11,500 and income of less than $1,217 a month, and
couples with under $23,000 in assets and $1,624 a month income.
• Individuals with less than $2,000 in assets and couples with less than $3,000 can also qualify,
regardless of income.
Callers who are likely eligible for the drug plan discount can provide their information by phone to hotline advocates, who will enter it on an application and forward it to the Social Security Administration. Social Security will then contact applicants directly if it needs additional data.
Before calling, potential applicants should make a list of how much they have in cash, bank accounts and investments and should know what their income is from all sources.
The Senior Legal Hotline (SLH) is a Sacramento-based free, statewide service for anyone over 60. Californians over 60 can call (916) 551-2140 locally and (800) 222-1753 statewide. Hours are 9 to 12 and 1 to 4 Monday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Information is also
available and questions can be submitted by e-mail from the hotline’s web site, www.seniorlegalhotline.org. A phone appointment is set following each e-mail query.
Hotline staff provide advice to seniors on any legal issue, without regard to income, and they are able to answer questions of all sorts about the new Medicare drug plan. But SLH “is especially interested in making sure that people with limited income take advantage of the ‘extra help’
Medicare is offering for prescription coverage,” said David L. Mandel, its supervising attorney.
The hotline does not advise clients on which of the many insurance plans is best for them. For help choosing a plan, Medicare members should contact their local HICAP program by calling (800) 434-0222 or speak with their pharmacist. Senior Legal Hotline, a program of Legal Services of Northern California, is supported by grants from the Administration on Aging, Area 4 Agency on Aging, local government agencies, foundations and individual donations. The project to help seniors get the Part D low-income subsidy is supported by a small grant from the AARP Foundation.
Very low-income seniors who already receive full Medi-Cal benefits – meaning with no “share of cost” – are being automatically enrolled in the discount program and should have received notices to that effect. But many others without full Medi-Cal are also eligible – and they need to
apply in order to receive the discount.
Two groups of people would probably benefit from the Part D extra help and need to apply:
• Individuals with liquid assets less than $11,500 and income of less than $1,217 a month, and
couples with under $23,000 in assets and $1,624 a month income.
• Individuals with less than $2,000 in assets and couples with less than $3,000 can also qualify,
regardless of income.
Callers who are likely eligible for the drug plan discount can provide their information by phone to hotline advocates, who will enter it on an application and forward it to the Social Security Administration. Social Security will then contact applicants directly if it needs additional data.
Before calling, potential applicants should make a list of how much they have in cash, bank accounts and investments and should know what their income is from all sources.
The Senior Legal Hotline (SLH) is a Sacramento-based free, statewide service for anyone over 60. Californians over 60 can call (916) 551-2140 locally and (800) 222-1753 statewide. Hours are 9 to 12 and 1 to 4 Monday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Information is also
available and questions can be submitted by e-mail from the hotline’s web site, www.seniorlegalhotline.org. A phone appointment is set following each e-mail query.
Hotline staff provide advice to seniors on any legal issue, without regard to income, and they are able to answer questions of all sorts about the new Medicare drug plan. But SLH “is especially interested in making sure that people with limited income take advantage of the ‘extra help’
Medicare is offering for prescription coverage,” said David L. Mandel, its supervising attorney.
The hotline does not advise clients on which of the many insurance plans is best for them. For help choosing a plan, Medicare members should contact their local HICAP program by calling (800) 434-0222 or speak with their pharmacist. Senior Legal Hotline, a program of Legal Services of Northern California, is supported by grants from the Administration on Aging, Area 4 Agency on Aging, local government agencies, foundations and individual donations. The project to help seniors get the Part D low-income subsidy is supported by a small grant from the AARP Foundation.
Topics:
.jpg)
.bmp)
.gif)
