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Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card Program

On December 8, 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. This act will immediately provide Medicare beneficiaries with discounts on their prescription drugs as well as provide comprehensive Medicare prescription drug coverage effective January 1, 2006.

Starting in the Spring of 2004, as an important first step towards comprehensive Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to enroll in a Medicare-approved discount card program (The Discount Card) that will offer discounts on their prescription drugs. If your Medicare patients raise questions about the Discount Card, you should suggest they visit www.medicare.gov and select "Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs" or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-800-486-2048.

This site will be updated as new information becomes available so check back often and book mark this site for quick access.

NOTE: Information for potential Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card sponsors can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/discountdrugs/.

Quick Facts About The Discount Card

• The Discount Card is a new important first step toward a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. The Discount Card is not a comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit.
• The Discount Card is a voluntary program and is slated to begin six months after the Medicare Reform bill is signed into law.
• The Discount Card is intended as a temporary program to provide immediate assistance in lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries during 2004 and 2005 and will end when Medicare implements a new, comprehensive prescription drug benefit that will begin January 1, 2006.
• The Discount Card is designed to provide Medicare beneficiaries access to discounts on their prescription drugs through enrollment in card programs offered by sponsors approved by Medicare.
• All Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for The Discount Card, except for those who have Medicaid drug coverage.
• Certain enrollees may also qualify for as much as $600 to help them pay for prescription drugs. Eligibility for this assistance will be based on a beneficiary's income and whether he or she already has any other prescription drug coverage.
• The Discount Card is only one of a number of programs available to help Medicare beneficiaries receive discounts on the price of their prescription drugs.
• Discount cards that are approved by Medicare will display a Medicare-approved mark on the card.

Resources

Approved Drug Card Sponsor Lists

HHS Overview of Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assitance Program

Press Releases Regarding the Medicare Prescription Drug Card

• December 10, 2003 News Release, "HHS Announces Immediate Steps to Make Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Programs Available Next Spring"
• November 25, 2003 News Release, "Secretary Thompson Applauds Final Passage of Medicare Bill"
• November 24, 2003 News Release, "Savings for Seniors Under The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit"
• November 22, 2003 News Release, "Statement by Tommy G. Thompson Secretary of Health and Human Services On House Passage of Bipartisan Medicare Legislation"
• November 21, 2003 News Release, "21st Century Medicare: More Choices - Better Benefits"

Frequently Asked Questions

• Medicare Modernization Act
• Drug Card
• Beneficiary

Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs

This section of Medicare.gov provides information on public and private programs that offer discounted or free medication, programs that provide assistance with other health care costs, and Medicare health plans that include prescription coverage.