Medicare Prescription Drug Plan information sheet

DEPARTMENT OF AGING Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Michael S. Steele Jean W. Roesser Governor Lt. Governor Secretary Advice about the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Ma/te a list of your prescription medicines, from most expensive, to least expensive meds. 'Educate yourself. There are 2 1 companies with 67 formularies (or lists of drugs) in Maryland. See which one suits your needs. Go to an expert training session near you held by your local Area on Aging. D ial for Help. Dial 1-800 Medicare, or your local Area Agency on Aging in your county. Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselors are located in every county and in Baltimore City; they are trained to help you. Call us at MDoA if you need a referral - 1-800-243-3425 - we will connect you to your Area Agency on Aging SHIP counselors. Internet Savvy? Or maybe your child or grandchild is? You can go online to the source: www.medicare. gov. A plan finder tool there will compare plans for your particular situation. Or, go to the Maryland Department of Aging’s web site at www.mdoa.state.md.us to find resources, including local seminars. Choose a plan that best covers your prescription drug needs and that is convenient for you. Maybe you have a trusted local pharmacist you would like to use or perhaps you prefer mail order delivery. A void Scams and Cons! Do not give your Medicare number, your bank account number or credit card number to anyone whom you do not know. No legitimate plan company will ask you for such personal information. After you join a plan between November 15 and May 15, the PDP will send you a bill and their plan card. Remember to call your local Area Agency on Aging with any questions. The Senior Health Insurance and Assistance program counselors there are best equipped to give you personal attention. Sometimes one-on-one is the best way to feel sure you are making the right decision. Enroll between November 15 and May 15. After May 15, you will incur a 1% penalty for each month you arc not enrolled, based on the national average premium (32.20 right now) until you do sign up. The next open enrollment is November 15, 2006, (six months later.) This means that you might incur a 6-month penalty if you wait until next November’s enrollment. A 1% penalty can add up and make your prescription plan more expensive than need be! Some plans have no premiums, so if you don’t take medicines currently, you may consider selecting a plan with a zero or low-cost premium, so you will at least have some coverage for up to a year in case you will need a prescription drug. Enroll by May 15, 2006. You always can change plans each year during Open Enrollment and you won’t incur a penalty for joining late. The important thing is to get on the books during this first phase of enrollment, which ends May 15, 2006. Do your Part! Do you think that you are already covered by a retirement plan? If so, make sure you receive notification IN WRITING stating that your coverage will continue as CREDITABLE coverage, meaning it will be as good or better than you could do choosing a new Prescription Drug Plan under Medicare. Hold on to that written document in case you ever need to switch to a Medicare PDP so you won’t incur a penalty for enrolling after the initial enrollment period.