Medicare Drug Discount Cards Available in May

Under the new Medicare law, prescription drug discount cards will become available to Medicare beneficiaries on May 3, 2004 for use beginning on June 1, 2004. Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose from 48 discount cards, 27 of which will
be available nationally. Thirty-six of the cards will charge a fee under $30 to enroll, and five will charge no fee. Medicare HMOs (known as "Medicare Advantage") will offer the cards as an integral part of their benefit package.

The cards will provide discounts on prescription drugs expected to range between 10 percent to 25 percent. Low income beneficiaries (elderly people and people receiving Social Security Disability benefits) may qualify for a $600 credit if an individual's annual income is less than $12,569, or a married couple's income is less than $16,862.

Complete information about the discount program, as well as a list of participating Medicare HMOs, is available by calling 800-Medicare (800-633-4227), or by going to
www.Medicare.gov. The website also contains information about state Medicaid plans, state pharmaceutical programs for people with low incomes, discount programs offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers, and regional Medicare discount
cards offered in many areas of the country and their enrollment fees. At the end of April, the website will be allow visitors to compare drug prices offered by each card sponsor.

The discount card is the first benefit available under the new law. The remaining
benefits will be available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2006.

You should learn you can about the discount cards before selecting a discount card, as you can. Each card may cover a limited number of drugs, so be sure to select a card that covers the drugs that you need. You cannot choose more than one card, and you can only change to a different card once each year.

April 7, 2004