WHAT’S NEW IN MEDICARE?
5 Ways to Lower Your Drug Costs
January 2007
Medicare's website lists 5 ways in which you can lower your prescription drug costs:
Consider Switching to Generics or Other Lower-Cost Drugs.
You may wish to talk to your doctor about the drugs you are currently taking to find out if there are generic or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you're taking now. Cost savings information through the use of mail-order pharmacies, generic or less-expensive brand-name drugs is also available in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder.
Explore National and Community-Based Charitable Programs
National and community-based charitable programs (such as the National Patient Advocate Foundation or the National Organization for Rare Disorders) may have programs that can help with your drug costs. Information on programs in your area is available on the Benefits Checkup website.
Look into Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
Many of the major drug manufacturers are offering assistance programs for people enrolled in Medicare Part D. You can find out whether a Patient Assistance Program is offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take by visiting Medicare’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Program site.
Look at State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
There are also 21 states and one territory offering help with paying drug plan premiums and/or other drug costs. You can find out if your State has a program by visiting Medicare’s State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program site.
Apply for Extra Help
If you have Medicare and have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help paying for your prescription drugs. If you qualify, you could pay between $1-$5 for each drug. Contact Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.
For additional information, visit the Medicare website by clicking here.
You can also get a free copy of Medicare booklet Bridging the Coverage Gap by clicking here.
_________________________________________________________
LINKS FROM PAST ARTICLES
- Part B Premiums To Rise (October 2007)
- Part D Premiums Lower in 2008 (August 2007)
- Medicare Changes Coverage For Anemia Drugs (August 2007)
- How Can Medicare Help Me Stay Healthy? (July 2007)
- Home Infusion Therapy (June 2007)
- New Edition of the Guide to Home Health Care Agencies (May 2007)
- Social Security and Medicare Trustees’ 2007 Report Summary (May 2007)
Share your thoughts with other readers by posting your comments on our blog at http://medicarebenefits.blogspot.com/
Home | Welcome | Medicare Information | Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Part A | Medicare Part B | Medicare Part C | Medicare Part D
Medicare Benefits | Find a Doctor | Site Map | Links
© 2007 Bird Island Partners, LLC