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'Nevada Medicare Express' Kicks Off

Are You Eligible For Extra Help to Pay for Medicare Prescription Drug Costs?

Beginning in January 2006, Medicare will offer prescription drug plans to beneficiaries. Now is the time to see if you qualify for some extra financial help in paying for your monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new program.

Programs offering education and counseling services to the 292,000 Medicare beneficiaries across the state are kicking off a special effort to educate Nevadans about the new prescription drug benefit from Medicare.

The effort, called the Nevada Medicare Express, will hold its next meeting in Clark County on Thursday, August 18 at 9 a.m. at the West Flamingo Senior Center, 6255 W. Flamingo Rd., just west of Jones Boulevard.

Events begin at 9 a.m. and include a general presentation on the new prescription drug benefit (Part D), breakout sessions to help specific groups and assistance with completing forms for people who qualify to get extra help paying for prescriptions.

Organizations making up the Nevada Medicare Express committee include Clark County Senior Advocate Office; county Social Services; SHIP Medicare Counselors; Social Security Administration; the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas; AARP; Salud En Accion (Clark County Health District); SNAG, Office of the Attorney General; HealthInsight; Governor�s Office of Consumer Health Assistance; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS); Nevada Division for Insurance; and Nevada Division for Aging Services.

From late May through mid- August, Social Security is mailing letters to nearly 19 million people who are potentially eligible for this extra help. In Southern Nevada, 90,000 people may be eligible for this extra assistance. The letter includes an application and a return-addressed, postagepaid envelope.

If you receive a letter in the mail, please read the information carefully. The letter will explain the prescription drug program, and tell you how to apply for the extra help. The application must be submitted on the original form; no copies will be accepted. Those who qualify for the extra help could save an average of $2,100 per year.

To qualify for the extra help, a person or married couple living together must have limited income and resources. You can qualify for this help as an individual if your total annual income is below $14,355 and your resources are valued below $10,000. The limits for a married couple living together are higher: $19,245 in combined annual income and $20,000 in resources. These resources can be slightly higher - an additional $1,500 per person - if you will be using some of your money for burial expenses. Even if your income is higher, you still may be able to get some help if, for example, you or your spouse supports other family members who live with you, or if you have earnings from work.

There are also certain exclusions from both income and resources. For example, your home and cars are not counted as resources. Therefore, if you think you might be eligible, you should apply.

To get dates for additional events to be held in Clark County call the Senior Advocate Office at 455-7051.