MEDICARE NEWS
The Social Security Administration and Medicare recently announced that a number of mailings will be made in late summer and early fall to Medicare beneficiaries. It is VERY IMPORTANT, that beneficiaries, or their caregivers, pay close attention to any letters received from Social Security or Medicare and respond according to the directions in the letter. Not to do so could result in one of several things happening that the beneficiary did not anticipate, such as:
u Loss of “Extra Help” in paying for the beneficiary’s Medicare Prescription Drug Premium and / or increased co-payments for drugs in 2010.
u Significant changes to the Medicare Prescription Drug plan in which they are enrolled that will take effect on January 1, 2010.
u Discontinuation of a Medicare Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan in which the beneficiary has been enrolled during 2009.
Other letters from Social Security or Medicare may inform the beneficiary of
assistance for which they may be eligible but not currently receiving, like the Medicare Savings Programs that help low income beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part B premium.
Individuals with questions about any letters they receive, or with other questions related to their Medicare coverage or needing help in reviewing their Medicare Prescription Drug coverage, may contact your local Commission on Aging office or Regional Office of the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) at the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-803-7174.
This
document was produced by the Regional MMAP office at the Area Agency on Aging of
MMAP
is funded by a grant from the
the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.