What you should know about Medicare prescription
drug cards
Q: When can I get a Medicare prescription drug
card?
A: A
Medicare-approved vendor should begin selling the cards in May 2004. You must
be entitled to or enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B. Medicaid recipients
are not eligible for a Medicare prescription drug card.
Q: How much will my card
cost? A: By law, no more than $30/year.
Q: Can I purchase more than one discount drug
card?
A: No. You
should buy only one approved Medicare prescription drug card. When you
purchase a Medicare prescription drug card, you must maintain that card for the
rest of the calendar year, unless you qualify for a special circumstance
allowing you to choose another card vendor - such as your original vendor goes
out of business. You may continue to use non-Medicare approved cards, though.
Q: Will my Medicare prescription drug discount
card make my other drug cards useless?
A: No. You may continue to use non-Medicare-approved cards, such as those
offered by drug manufacturers. Be sure to check to see which card produces the
best discount for you.
Q: Can I get a Medicare prescription drug card
if I have a Medigap plan that covers drugs?
A:
Yes. Again, compare and use the option
that gives you the best discounts.
Q: Where will I be able to use the drug card?
A: Medicare
law specifies that each approved drug card must have pharmacy access within
certain distances. For example, if you live in an urban area, you should be
able to use your card at a pharmacy that's within two miles; five miles for
suburban and 15 miles for rural areas.
Q: How can I benefit from using the Medicare
prescription drug card?
A: You should be able to get
discounts on prescription drugs at a pharmacy.
Q: How can I find which Medicare prescription
drug card offers me the best discounts?
A: Go to Medicare's web site at http://www.medicare.gov/
or call toll-free 1-800-633-4227. It is wise to check to make sure the
pharmaceuticals you use regularly would be covered by the prescription drug
card you choose. Also, federal law prohibits some items from being eligible for
discounts with the card, such as products used for cosmetic purposes or to grow
hair.
Q: Must a prescription discount card vendor
make public its discounts on drugs?
A: Yes. All you need to do is ask to see the discounts. Your vendor also should
be able to provide you with a toll-free 800 telephone number to call.
Q: Will I be able to bring any issues up with
a prescription drug discount vendor?
A: Yes. By law, each Medicare-endorsed vendor must have a grievance process for
members. And be sure the vendor is endorsed by Medicare because fly-by-night
companies may spring up to trick you.
Q: Is there more help available besides
discounts?
A: Yes, for those Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes. These
beneficiaries are eligible for up to $600 in benefits and can get their initial $30 discount card enrollment fee
paid for. To qualify, you must earn less than $12,569/year ($16,862 for couples).
You may apply for such "transitional assistance" at any time. Any
endorsed card vendor should be able to help you to apply.
Q: What if I paid $30 to get a
card and later it was determined I qualified for transitional assistance? .
A: Your card vendor should quickly repay you
your $30 enrollment fee. The $600 in annual transitional assistance may also be
used to pay for copays and deductibles on qualified
drugs.
Q: How can my pharmacist help?
A: Your pharmacist should be able to answer questions about the new
Medicare prescription drug card. Your pharmacist also, by federal law, must
tell you of any price difference between a covered discount card drug and the
lowest price generic equivalent.
Q: Is this part of that Medicare Part D
benefit for prescription drugs?
A: No. The Medicare prescription drug discount cards will last only for 2004
and 2005 (you would face another $30 enrollment fee in 2005), then the program
ends and will be replaced by the new Part D drug benefit, starting in January
2006.
Q: How can I get more information on the drug
cards?
A: Visit http://www.medicare.gov/ or
call toll-free 1-800-633-4227
Sources: Federal Register, 11/15/03, p.
69840 and Susan Winckler, American Pharmacists Assn.,
H1195