News

Press Release 6/28/05

Your Pharmacist, Terry Daniels, of the Warren Pharmacy, recently attended a conference in Indianapolis sponsored by Medicare & Social Security.  Education Seminars were focused on the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug program.

Beginning January 1, 2006, a new program will provide prescription drug coverage under Medicare.  It will be a VOLUNTARY program, which provides Prescription Drug INSURANCE for all people who are eligible for Medicare.  It will be administered through dozens of Insurance Companies and hundreds of different plans.  Not everyone will need this coverage.  Those who already have Prescription Drug coverage through their employer or retirement plan may not want, nor need, this coverage.  People who have both Medicare & Medicaid will be automatically enrolled in a plan!

As with any Insurance plan, there will be Premiums, Deductibles and Copays. For now, the important thing to do is to become informed about the program and whether or not you should choose to enroll in a plan.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary with limited income and resources, you may be able to get extra help paying for prescription drugs under this program.  You will need to apply to Social Security to see if you qualify for help paying for your monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments under this new prescription drug program.  The Social Security office in Wilkes Barre, PA has mailed out millions of applications to Medicare recipients, which it believes might qualify for extra help.  If you have received an application and think you might qualify for this assistance, you MUST fill out the 5 pages & 16 questions and SEND it in.  This DOES NOT enroll you in a Medicare Part D program.  It will only allow you to know if you qualify for help paying for your monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments.  The form can also be found online at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10015.html

For more information on these or other pharmacy topics, make an appointment to ask your Pharmacist.