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Eligibility for Medicare Drug Subsidy is Key
By Tony Pugh, Contra Costa Times
October 1, 2005
The Social Security Administration mailed out nearly 19 million applications this year for the Medicare prescription drug benefit's low-income drug subsidy.
Only 3.1 million people responded. Medicare expects 11 million people to sign up for the low-income benefit by the end of 2006; so much work remains to be done.
Who gets what
Depending on your income, you could receive coverage that includes a $50 deductible (or none at all), a sliding-scale monthly premium that averages $18 per month (or none at all), co-pays of $2 for generic drugs and $5 for other drugs.
That works out to coverage that pays between 85 percent and 98 percent of all drug costs.
Who's eligible
If your individual annual income is less than $14,355 and your personal assets don't exceed $11,500, you may qualify.
Married couples who live together may qualify if their income is $19,245 or less and their assets don't exceed $23,000.
These amounts may be higher for people who pay at least half the cost of supporting other relatives in the household, live in Alaska or Hawaii, or are employed.
The working blind and disabled have additional income exclusions.
What assets count
Belongings considered personal assets include real estate (but not your primary residence); bank accounts such as checking, savings and certificates of deposit; stocks; bonds, including U.S. savings bonds; IRAs and mutual funds; and cash at home and elsewhere.
What assets don't
Your primary residence; your vehicle(s); household goods and personal possessions; resources not easily converted to cash, such as farm machinery, jewelry and livestock; federal income tax refunds; individual life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.
How to apply
Contact your local Social Security office or you can apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov.
You can also call Medicare at 800-Medicare (800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
You can also apply through Medicare's online enrollment center at www.medicare.gov.
Help with application
Contact your local Social Security office or call Social Security at 800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)
For additional help, go to:
https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main.html
Your area State Health Insurance Assistance Program can also help you fill out the application.
For an online list of state assistance programs and their phone numbers, go to the Health Assistance Partnership Web site at:
www.healthassistancepartnership.org
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