January 2008 Vol. 27. No. 1

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.

Warm beds
Ask HICAP: Using Your Medicare drug plan in 2008
Financial Abuse
A1AA: F.U.N. Play Center gives grandparents a place to call their own
Global Warming

Pick up a copy today! Better yet, subscribe and never miss an issue!

Brought to you by

Ask HICAP
Using Your Medicare drug plan in 2008
by Anne Conrad-Antoville

If you changed your Medicare drug plan in November or December of 2007 and you have not yet received your new drug plan card for 2008, you can call the drug plan and ask for the following:

• Your Drug Plan ID #

• RX BIN #

• PCN #

• RX Group #

If you have these four numbers and your Medicare card, your pharmacist can bill your drug plan.

If you changed drug plans for 2008, and one or more of your drugs is not on the new plan’s formulary you have the right to a one-month transitional fill of any medication in January. After January you can ask the plan for an exception to cover your medication.

Premiums higher

If you have Medi-Cal or the Extra Help Program for Medicare drug plans and you are enrolled in AARP Saver Plan, CIGNA Healthcare Value Plan, Humana Standard Plan or Wellcare Signature Plan, you will have to pay an additional premium cost this year. You can either 1) stay with the plan and pay an additional premium cost every month or 2) change to one of the nine plans that accepts Medi-Cal/Extra Help as full premium cost in 2008.

Extra help and Medi-cal

You have the right to change drug plans one time per month if you have Medi-Cal or Extra Help. If you had Extra Help in 2007 but lost it in 2008, you have the right to change plans one time through March 31, 2008.

Ask HICAP

If you need help with Medicare drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplements or Long Term Care insurance you can call HICAP, a free health insurance counseling program of the Area 1 Agency on Aging at 444-3000 in Humboldt, 464-7876 in Del Norte or 800-434-0222 toll free.

Anne Conrad-Antoville manages HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, for the Area 1 Agency on Aging.