|
On January 1, 2006,
Medicare implemented a new program to help pay for prescription drugs for
people who have Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B. The new program is
called "Medicare Rx". It is also known as “Medicare Part D.”
ConnPACE has been
coordinating benefits with the Medicare Rx program to ensure that your
prescription drug needs are covered. ConnPACE will continue to provide the
same benefits in the upcoming year. Currently in 2008, there are a total of
51 stand-alone prescription drug plan options offered in Connecticut. The
ConnPACE program will work with all of the plans offered to allow you
to benefit from both programs and meet your individual needs.
By law, ConnPACE is
required to coordinate benefits with the Medicare Rx program. ConnPACE will
provide wrap-around coverage such as monthly Medicare Rx premium assistance;
help with out-of-pocket costs above the current $16.25 co-payment; and
coverage of non-formulary drugs through the
ConnPACE exception process.
As a ConnPACE member, you
will continue to be responsible for the annual ConnPACE application fee of
$30, which is paid to maintain your ConnPACE benefits. Your Medicare Rx
prescription drug plan becomes your primary insurance carrier, and ConnPACE
by virtue of providing wrap-around coverage, becomes secondary.
In addition to ConnPACE
and Medicare working together, you may also qualify for “extra help” with
your prescription costs. This is also referred to as Low Income Subsidy.
|
The “extra help” is a
subsidy administered by the Social Security Administration. With the extra
help, you will pay as little as $2.25 or $5.60 per prescription, which is
even less than the current ConnPACE co-payment of $16.25 per prescription.
The amount of assistance received through this subsidy is based on an
individual’s current income and assets. For more information, or to apply
for “extra help”, please contact the Social Security Administration at
1-800-772-1213 or the CHOICES program at 1-800-994-9422.
Here is some helpful information for ConnPACE enrollees:
1. Each year, there is an
open enrollment period for the Medicare RX program from November 15 to
December 31. We recently had our third open enrollment period for Medicare
Rx since this program was implemented in January 2006. The open enrollment
period allows those who are eligible to enroll in a Medicare Rx prescription
drug plan that will be effective on the first of the upcoming year. (January
1, 2008 this year)
2. The open enrollment period is also useful for those who are already in a
plan and want to switch to a plan that is more appropriate for their
individual needs.
3. A letter was mailed out to ConnPACE members at the end of November 2007
explaining the open enrollment period for the 2008 year.
Click here
to view this letter.
4. The new income eligibility limits for 2008 were released in November
2007.
Click here
to see New Income Levels.
|
