Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Begins

Beginning January 1, 2006, new Medicare prescription drug plans became available to everyone with Medicare. Representing the biggest change in Medicare’s 40-year history, prescription drug coverage now helps Nebraska beneficiaries pay for the prescriptions they need.

UNL Extension’s Involvement:

Since November 2004, UNL Extension has collaborated with the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIIP) to educate and enroll beneficiaries, initially in the transitional prescription drug card program, and starting November 15, 2006, in the now-available Medicare prescription drug plans. To strengthen the effort in Nebraska, AARP NEBRASKA, SHIIP and UNL Extension joined with several state and federal agencies to form the Nebraska Medicare Prescription Drug Coalition. Since June 1 of 2005, the Coalition has led frequent satellite or telephone conferences statewide to educate professionals and build a strong network of key stakeholders who have used a consistent, accurate message and a coordinated effort to implement the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit in Nebraska. The Coalition also maintains a Medicare Part D website containing information for the public as well as professionals that can be found at: www.answers4families.org.

Results:

• According to statistics released by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 88% of Nebraska's 266,900 Medicare beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage following last fall's (2006) Open Enrollment Period.
• Nebraska ranks 4th in the nation for percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled into a "stand-alone" prescription drug plan (43% of our Medicare population.)
• Nebraska ranked 15th in the nation for having people on Medicare enrolled into some type of prescription drug coverage that was considered "creditable coverage" (78% of our Medicare population.)
• As a member of the Nebraska Medicare Prescription Drug Coalition, UNL Extension faculty personally educated over 5144 beneficiaries and caretakers about Medicare’s new drug benefit and enrolled 622 beneficiaries, saving them approximately $777,050.00. See the impact report: http://citnews.unl.edu/extension/ears/lib/showReport.cgi?RECORD=3992

In the fall of 2007, staff working with this issue will gear up to educate and enroll beneficiaries during the Annual Election Period, November 15 – December 31, 2007. At that time, Medicare beneficiaries can enroll for the first time and/or change plans.

Remember:

Everyone with Medicare is eligible for the drug benefit.

If you already have a Medicare drug plan and wish to change it… you may do so between November 15 and December 31, each year. Certain circumstances, as well as groups of people, qualify for special enrollment periods.

If you are turning 65 and do not have drug coverage …you may enroll in a Medicare drug plan anytime during a seven-month period (the 3 months before your birth-month, the month in which you were born, and 3 months after your birth-month.)

If you are over 65 and have drug coverage that is ending … you have 63 days from the last day of your coverage to enroll in a Medicare drug plan. Generally, this scenario applies to those who are retiring and losing their employer health insurance.

If you can’t afford Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, find out if you’re eligible for extra help by contacting your local Social Security Administration, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 and asking for help with your Medicare prescription drug costs.

During 2007 staff working with Medicare education continue to promote Medicare's new Preventive Benefits and Online Tools. Both services are especially useful and sadly underused by Medicare beneficiaries. See http://www.MyMedicare.gov .

Whatever one’s circumstances, it’s worth checking out what Medicare drug coverage offers. Many resources exist to help us with those questions. Call your University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Office or the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1/800-234-7119 for more information. Or, contact the Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227.)

For more information contact your local University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Office or call the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at: 1-800-234-7199