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Medicare - How do I pay for the coverage?

How do I pay for the coverage? Can it be deducted from my Social Security or my retirement check?

In general, there are three ways you can pay your Medicare drug plan premiums:

1. You can give permission to the company that offers the Medicare drug plan you choose to deduct the premium automatically from your bank account, or

2. You can have your premium deducted every month from your Social Security benefits, similar to your premiums for Medicare Part B, or

3. You can pay the prescription drug plan directly for your premium by mailing them a check or money order each month.

Is there someone to help me choose a Medicare prescription drug plan?



Talk to a family member, friend, or other caregiver to help you decide what drug coverage meets your needs. You may also

* Starting on October 17, you can look under the "Search Tools' option on this web site for detailed information about the plans available in your area.
* Call 1-800 MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
* Call Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the Helpful Contacts section of this web site for their telephone number).
* Look for information about events in your local newspaper or listen for information on the radio.
* Call your local office on aging. For the telephone number, visit www.eldercare.gov on the web.

What if the prescription I take is not covered by my Medicare drug plan? Will Medicaid still pay for it?

If Medicare covers a prescription drug, Medicaid will not pay for it. However, Medicare drug plans don’t have to cover every drug that’s included in Medicare prescription drug coverage. They only have to cover every type of drug. You should review what drugs are covered by the Medicare drug plans available in your area and try to join one that covers the same prescriptions you take now. If the plan doesn’t cover your exact prescriptions, it’s required to have a transition period where your current drugs may be covered for a certain length of time while you work with your doctor to find an alternative prescription drug to take that is covered by the plan. If your doctor believes you need to take your current prescription drug and should not switch to a covered prescription drug, you or your doctor can contact your plan and ask it to give you an "exception" which means the plan agrees to pay for your current drug. If the plan refuses to give you an exception, you can appeal the plan’s decision.

However, if you are currently stabilized on certain specific prescription drugs (like drugs for depression, cancer or HIV/AIDS), you don’t have to switch to a different prescription drug. Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if your prescription drugs qualify.

When you join, the Medicare drug plan will send you information about its appeal procedures. Read the information carefully and call your plan if you have any questions.

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