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Top 10
Facts about New Medicare Benefits
1.
New Law. The
Medicare Prescription Drug Inprovement and Modernization Act of 2003
was passed by Congress in December 2003.
2.
More Benefits. Now Medicare will offer more choices in
health care coverage and prescription drug benefits.
3.
New prescription drug coverage. Full Medicare prescription
drug coverage starts in 2006. Once available, you can enroll
through 2006 to receive a Medicare-approved drug discount card
and save approximately 10.25 percent on your medicines.
4.
Savings start
soon. Medicare-approved
drug discount cards will be available for enrollment begining in May
2004. You can start saving in June.
5.
Your pharmacy
staff can tell you more. They
can tell you more about the discount cards and how to apply.
6. Medicare
approved. Medicare
will endorese a number of "official" Medicare discount
cards. You may only apply for one.
7. Financial
assistance.
Medicare also offers financial assistance for singles with incomes
below $12,569 or for married couples with incomes below $16,862.
You can ask your pharmacy for more information about the Medicare
credit of up to $600.
8. Additional
Health Benefits. There
are also new preventative benefits available for people with
Medicare, such as blood screening tests and a one-time initial
wellness physical exam within six months of the day you enroll in
Medicare Part B.
9. Medicare
Advantage. Also
in 2004, Medicare+ Choice plans are now called Medicare
Advantage. Medicare Advantage rules and payments have been
improved to give you more health plan choices and better
benefits. Call Medicare to find out more.
10.
Ways to save. You
can now set aside money each year, tax free, in Health Savings
Accounts. These accounts can be used to help pay for medical
expenses and unused money will earn interest tax-free, just like an
Individual Retirement Account (IRA). |
