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The New Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program
Can Help Some People Living in a Nursing Home Save on Prescription Drugs
In 2004 and 2005 people with Medicare can sign up for a Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card. Low-income Medicare beneficiaries who do not have Medicaid outpatient drug coverage may qualify for a $600 credit in each year. The drug card and the $600 credit are designed to help people who are paying out of pocket for their prescription drugs. The card sponsor and your pharmacy will know when to apply the $600 credit. The $600 credit cannot be used if Medicare Part A is paying for your stay. This is a voluntary program.
If you meet all of the conditions below, you should apply for one of these three cards and for the $600 annual credit:
- You have Medicare Part A and/or Part B, and
- You don't have outpatient prescription drug benefits from Medicaid, and
- Your stay in the nursing home is not being paid by Medicaid, and
- You get your drugs through the nursing home pharmacy, not from an outside source such as a community pharmacy or mail order, and
- Your monthly income is no more than $1,048 for a single person or no more than $1,406 for a married couple (If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, income limits are different). This means you qualify for a $600 credit in 2004 on your drug discount card to help pay for your prescriptions and another $600 credit in 2005.
Note: If your state helps pay your Medicare Part A or Part B premiums you may still qualify even if your income is above these amounts.
Note: You can get the $600 credit while Medicare is paying for your nursing home stay. The $600 credit can't be used while Medicare Part A is paying for your stay.
These are the three special Medicare-approved drug discount cards for people with Medicare living in a nursing home who get their drugs through the nursing home's special long term care pharmacy and who want to get the $600 credit if they qualify:
Card Name |
Sponsor Telephone |
LTC Card |
ACS State Healthcare |
LLC and the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Alliance |
1-866-490-1863 |
Community Care Rx |
Computer Sciences Corporation |
1-877-646-5307 |
PBM Plus Senior Care |
PBM Plus, Inc |
1-800-676-8399 |
To get one of these Medicare-approved drug discount cards:
- Call the company that is offering the drug discount card through the pharmacy that serves you in the nursing home, and ask for enrollment materials.
- Fill out the enrollment form for the card and $600 credit.
- Send the signed enrollment form with this information to the card sponsor.
- The sponsor will send you a letter letting you know if you are eligible. If you are eligible, you will also get your Medicare-approved drug discount card with that letter.
If you already have a Medicare-approved card, you will be able to switch to one of these special cards. For more information, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the discount card sponsor. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Your nursing home may provide information or assistance in enrolling.
Produced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, June 2004.
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