FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MEDICARE PART D:
- You have to enroll to get Part D. If you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), you are not automatically enrolled in Part D. You have to enroll in a specific Part D plan.
- There
will be additional costs. In a basic benefits plan, a coverage
gap can exist. Out-of-pocket costs would be:
- $250 deductible
- You then receive 75% coverage until your total drug costs reach $2,250, continuing up to $5,100
- You then pay 100% of the next $2,850 of drug costs, until your out-of-pocket costs total $3,600
- Then, catastrophic coverage begins, and you receive 95% coverage
after meeting the $3,600 out-of-pocket
- Observe enrollment periods. Sign up before May 15, 2006, to avoid having to pay permanently higher premiums. Open enrollment is between November 15 and December 31 each year.
- Compare plan formularies. Research drug plans to take
advantage of lower co-pays. You may pay a little more each
month, but will probably save money in the long run! Medicare offers
a tool to help you find health plans in your state that match your
required drug list at: http://plancompare.medicare.gov/formularyfinder/selectstate.asp
Government Assistance
Formulary Finder for Prescription Drug Plans
This tool will allow you to find health plans in your
state that match your required drug list.
http://formularyfinder.medicare.gov/formularyfinder/selectstate.asp
Medicare & Medicaid Regional Offices
This tool will allow you to locate your regional
CMS Office, located in ten
major cities across the United States.
http://cms.hhs.gov/RegionalOffices/
Medicaid
Prescription Drug Program
Provides
information about prescription drug coverage.
1-800-Medicaid
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/drugs/drughmpg.asp
Medicare
Prescription Drug Program
Provides
information about prescription drug coverage.
1-800-Medicare
(1-800-633-4227)
http://www.medicare.gov
and
http://www.cms.hhs.gov
Mark McClellan, MD, PhD
Administrator of the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
mark.mcclellan@cms.hhs.gov
Leslie Norwalk, Deputy Administrator
Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services
Same as above address
lnorwalkbb@cms.hhs.gov
Social Security Disability Programs
The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income
disability programs are the larges of several Federal programs that provide
assistance to people with disabilities.
1-800-772-1213
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/
Medication & Co-pay Assistance
Healthwell FoundationThis charitable organization offers co-pay assistance for MDS medications. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST
1-800-675-8416
http://www.healthwellfoundation.org
National Organization for Rare Diseases
Medication
Assistance Program
1-800-999-6673 or 203-744-0100
http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication
Needy
Meds
A
resource for people who cannot afford medicine or other healthcare
costs. Needymeds has information on over 600 programs.
1-215-625-9609
http://www.needymeds.com
Patient Access
Network Foundation
This
Foundation assists patients with their coinsurance associated with MDS
treatments/medications. Hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM EST
1-866-316-7263
http://www.patientaccessnetwork.org
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient
Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief (CPR) Program provides direct co-payment
assistance for pharmaceutical products to insured Americans who financially
and medically qualify.
1-800-532-5274
http://www.patientadvocate.org
Patient Services, Inc.
A non-profit
charitable organization, primarily dedicated to subsidizing the high
cost of health insurance premiums and pharmacy co-payments for persons
with specific chronic illnesses and rare disorders.
1-800-366-7741
http://www.uneedpsi.org
The Chronic Disease Fund
This program
provides assistance to those under-insured patients who are diagnosed
with chronic or life altering diseases.
1-877-968-7233
http://www.cdfund.org
Together RX Access
This program is
free and offers over 25%-40% savings on over 275 brand name and generic
prescription drugs.
1-800-444-4106
http://www.togetherrxaccess.com
Pharmaceutical Company Assistance
Celgene Corporation
The RevAssist Program
A proprietary
risk-management restrictive distribution program, tailored specifically
for Revlimid patients.
1-888-4CELGENE
www.Revlimid.com
PSS Program (Patient Support Solutions)
Novartis
Ask About Iron
Ask about iron is an education program for those at most risk
for iron overload disease due to blood transfusions.
www.askaboutiron.com
The EPASS Prescription and Reimbursement System
For
patients who are being treated for iron overload, this system will ensure
you receive your prescriptions on time at your home or location of choice.
1-888-90E-PASS (1-888-903-7277)
www.epassrx.com
or
www.exjadeus.com
Pharmion Corporation
The VIDAZA Patient Assistance Program
To obtain assistance from the VIDAZA Patient Assistance Program, please contact
a reimbursement specialist at 866-Pharmion (866-742-7646), Monday through
Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Reimbursement
Hotline and website link:
866-PHARMION (866-742-7646)
http://www.vidaza.com/corporateweb/vidazaus/homeB.msf/Content/Reimbursement?
Letters do make a difference – There is power in numbers
To locate your Legislator
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
For a Representative of the House:
The Honorable (First and Last Name)
United
States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative (Last Name):
-or-
For a member of the Senate:
The Honorable (First and Last Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator (Last Name):
Tips for Writing Congress
State your purpose for writing in the first sentence of the letter. For example, As your constituent, I am writing to urge your support for increased funding for health care.
Include personal information about why the issue matters to you to make your point.
If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it. And make sure that you are referencing the correct legislation to the correct body of Congress.
House bills are H.R.___;
Senate bills are designated as S. ___.
It is also important to know the status of the bill.
Be courteous.
Close your letter with a restatement of your purpose and indicate the response that you expect.
