Greetings,

What's Happening with the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit?

The Epilepsy Foundation has been working with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services about the implementation for each phase of the new prescription drug benefit mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act. This is the sixth part in our Medicare updates with information about the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

New Web Service Helps Medicare Beneficiaries Evaluate and Enroll in Prescription Drug Programs

BenefitsCheckUpRX is a new web-based service that will help Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers/advocates learn about and enroll in government benefits, including the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and other federal, state and private programs that can save individuals money on health care and prescription drugs.

The free web service was developed by the Administration on Aging (AoA) with the assistance of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Council on the Aging (NCOA).

BenefitsCheckUpRx will help older adults and the advocates who work with them take advantage of the Medicare low-income subsidy, the comprehensive extra help that covers 95 percent of drug costs on average for people with Medicare who have limited means. Applications are available now and altogether, about one in three Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help. The new service screens beneficiaries for eligibility and then provides a quick link to applying online for the extra help through the Social Security Administration’s Web site. At the same time, it helps seniors and those who work with them apply for other needs-based government programs including the Medicare Savings Programs and other federal, state and private programs that can save seniors money.

Using BenefitsCheckUpRx, people with Medicare can get help learning about and applying for the Medicare low-income subsidy if they are eligible, as well as learn about how to enroll in various programs, including state pharmacy assistance programs, private company patient assistance programs, veterans and TRICARE benefits, Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI), Supplemental Security Income, and the Medicare-approved drug discount cards can be obtained through December 2005. The tool is confidential: no one is required to enter their name, address, phone number, or Social Security number until they enroll. In addition, the new BenefitsCheckUpRx incorporates state-specific income and asset eligibility requirements into its on-line screening tool.

How Do I Get Started?

1. Link to http://www.BenefitsCheckUp.org/rx
2. Answer the Questions *(Please see a sample of the questions you will be asked listed below)
3. Read the recommendations that are given based on your answers.
4. Follow-up with the additional contacts and resources that are listed to sign up for the recommended benefits.
5. Send your comments, questions or suggestions on the BenefitsCheckUp site to comments@benefitscheckup.org

An Overview of the BenefitsCheckUp Questions

Terms in italics are further defined when linked to the live site)

1. For whom are you completing this questionnaire? (Do not have to enter name only self, father, brother, test case, etc.)
2. Is the person for whom you're completing this questionnaire male or female?
3. In which state would you like to screen for programs?
4. Is this the state of primary residence?
5. Please enter the 5-digit zip code for the area in which the person collecting any potential benefits will reside.
6. Please enter your month and year of birth.
7. What is your U.S. citizenship/immigration status?
8. What is your current marital status?
9. Are you a U.S. Veteran?
10. Are you a Medicare eligible U.S. military retiree, including retired guards and reservists, who has served 20 or more years?
11. Are you chronically ill or do you have a disability that seriously limits your ability to work or take care of yourself?
12. Are you legally blind?
13. Including yourself, please enter the number of people living in your household who help pay for household expenses.
14. How much money do you spend each month, out of your own pocket, on medical expenses? Include healthcare expenses that are not covered by health insurance. For example: cost of medical equipment and prescription drugs, doctor's fees, co-payments, transportation to doctor's visits, home health attendant's fees, health insurance premiums and annual deductibles, and nursing home expenses.
15. Are you currently receiving benefits from or participating in any of the following public programs? (State and Federal programs are listed)
16. What is your monthly work income, if any, before taxes and other deductions?
17. What is your total monthly income from sources other than employment, before taxes and other deductions? Include income from Social Security (including Medicare Part B Premium), dividends, interest, private pensions, retirement benefits, etc.
18. What is the total cash value of your assets? Include cash, bank accounts, CDs, IRAs, stocks, bonds, cash value of any life insurance policy (do not include face value), and revocable burial accounts. Do not include the value of your home (if it is your principal place of residence), the value of your car, or the value of your 401K plan (if you are still employed under the plan).

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