Senior News July, 2004 Vol. 25. No. 7

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

New guide to natural swimming holes is now available

Ask HICAP

Remembering Spirit - Edilith Eckart

Sacred land restored to Wiyot tribe

Summer activities accessible to all

Community donations make our 30th year celebration a day to remember

Welcome, Bill

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by Anne Antoville

Help for High Drug Costs

If you do not have insurance that helps cover your drug costs, you could be spending a larger portion of your income on drugs than in the past. AARP has reported that prescription drug costs have increased three times the rate of inflation since 2000, almost 30 percent. Some of the top drugs taken by seniors have increased 10 percent since last year!

Special help available

If you are single and your income is $1,047 a month or less or married with income $1,405 a month or less, you can get $600 per year on the Medicare Discount Card. This is called Transitional Assistance. You will still have to pay a co-pay of 5 to 10 percent at the pharmacy when using the assistance. HICAP can help you with the application.

Medi-Cal

You can own a house and a car, have $2,000 or less in liquid assets, single ($1,026 monthly cap) or married ($1,419 cap), and you may be able to get full scope Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal will cover all your prescription costs. Medi-Cal also has other benefits. Medi-Cal will pay the Medicare part B premium, the co-pays and deductibles for Medicare and also some other medical costs that Medicare does not cover.

You can apply for Transitional Assistance while you are applying for Medi-Cal. The $600 for Transitional Assistance cannot be counted as assets for government medical, IHSS, SSI or food stamp programs. You cannot apply for Transitional Assistance if you already have full scope Medi-Cal.

Other Help

You may be able to save hundreds of dollars per year by using medication assistance programs. Generally the income limits are about $18,000 a year for singles and $24,000 a year for couples, but this can vary depending on the program.

The Together Rx card is free and offers substantial drug discounts for singles with income up to $28,000 a year and married up to $38,000 a year.

The Medicare Discount Card may provide 10 to 15 percent savings on drug costs. Some cards may cost $30 per year, others less, some are free. You will need to find a card that works for your pharmacy and covers your drugs.

HICAP can help you find the program that works for you. HICAP services are free and confidential. Call 443-9747 in Humboldt, 464-7876 in Del Norte. For Medi-Cal questions call Senior Legal Services 443-9747.

Anne Antoville is manager for HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program of the Area Agency on Aging.