Q & A
Are there any programs that you know of that help seniors with their Medicare expenses? I’m 67 and live primarily on my Social Security, and am having a hard time paying my Medicare premiums, deductibles, co-pays and prescription drug costs.
There are several financial assistance programs that can help Medicare beneficiaries who are having a tough time paying their out-of-pocket health care costs. Here’s what’s offered, along with the eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Medicare Savings
Let’s start with a program that helps lower-income Medicare beneficiaries pay premiums and out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Parts A and B. It’s called the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), and it has several different benefit levels for people with different financial resources. At its most generous the program will pay your Part B premium and pretty much all your Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. At its least generous the program will pay just your Part B premium.
To qualify for a MSP, the minimum standard set by Medicare, is an income under 135 percent of the federal poverty level, which at the moment works out to around $1,313 a month for individuals. Everything counts towards income, including payouts from 401(k) plans, pensions, Social Security, and help from family members. Medicare also allows states to impose an asset test, which can be as little as $7,080 per individual, not counting your house or car but counting retirement savings and bank accounts.
But some states have made their MSP programs a lot more generous, with much higher income limits and in some cases no asset tests at all. And the program may be called something else in your state. To find out if you qualify or to apply, contact your local Medicaid office – call 800-633-4227 for contact information.
Medication Assistance
For help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs, there is another completely separate program called Extra Help. To get it, you’ll need to apply through your local Social Security office.
Depending on exactly how low your income is, the program will pay all or part of your Part D prescription drug plan premium and deductible, a hefty chunk of your copay, and totally eliminate the doughnut hole coverage gap. In 2013, individuals with an income below $1,436 a month, and assets under $13,300 can qualify for Extra Help.
If you’re eligible to be in a Medicare Savings Program, you will automatically qualify for Extra Help. But because the requirements are slightly different, even if you don’t qualify for a Medicare Savings Program for Part B you might be able to get Extra Help for Part D. For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.
Source: Daily Journal Online
I don’t know if this is where I can ask a question about Social Security, as it says this is for opinions. But, will ask anyway. I have applied for widow’s benefits to add a small amount to my own retirement, and when I applied I told SSA that I had been married to the wage earner for almost 18 years, and then we were divorced. I also married a second time but divorced the second husband almost 10 years ago. Well, I submitted the documents to show I was married to the second husband and the documents to show we were divorced. But my first husband, the one I am trying to get the widow’s benefits, all I could get was the marriage certificate, and I am still trying to get the divorce certificate. I sent all the other documentation to SSA, but they finally denied my claim because I couldn’t produce the divorce certificate to my first husband, even though I was keeping them up-to-date on what was happening, and sent them the letter I received from the State of Oregon saying they couldn’t find the record but have requested the county to look for it. So I asked for a reconsideration saying all of these things. I said if I could prove that I was married to my first husband but not divorced, I would think that would show we were never divorced. They said yes except I told them I was divorced when I first applied so therefore I have to show proof of that. Well, I said I had thought I was divorced, but if my attorney never sent in the final papers, which I would not have been aware of, than I was probably wrong, and we never were divorced. Also I said I thought SSA helped people obtain necessary documentation when the applicant is having a problem getting it. I am still waiting to hear from Oregon, and I am waiting to see what SSA does with my request fro reconsideration. So, my question is, doesn’t SSA help a person obtain necessary documents or not. I know they try to help people that have come here from other countries, when the country they come from is not very good at keeping records like they are supposed to here. So why would this be any different? I am living in the State of Washington, but my marriage and divorce from my first spouse was in Oregon. Unless, of course, there never was a divorce. Sorry this is so long.