Medicaid Program

[Casandra]

For those of you who don't know this yet, I found out in a very unfortunate way!

If you have relatives or you yourself are on Medicare parts A & B and are on an HMO plan, pay close attention. If you haven't already done so, check with your health provider member services representative. While the shrub touted how enrollment was voluntary, the federal government made it MANDITORY for any HMO to go with the new Medicare part D plan, or lose their funding. Naturally this got foisted upon all their patients who were enrolled with the Medicare plan. For those who were on a supplemental co-pay plan for prescriptions, to lower the cost of that co-pay, be aware...... those plans are now gone! You or yours will now pay the Medicare Part D prescription co-pay, in full!

..and more...your 100 day supplies of meds, will now cost you THREE months of co-pays..not the one co-pay you've originally been paying. Heads up here...

You will be allowed (gross price) up to $2250 worth of meds, when you will be considered a 'major user' of RX (God help the diabetics who need needles, insulin etc). At that time, your co-pay doubles from $40 per name brand drugs to $80. Are you getting this?

My mother has emphasema, diabetes, on oxygen 24/7 etc..and takes up to 16 different meds a month on a daily basis. As she is on social security and RR retirement, totalling $660 a month, California has her on Medi-Cal to cover her RX co-pays. Medi-Cal has left the picture now, due to Medicare part D, deferred everything to that and now she has to pay her own deductibles.

Yes, there is help through spplying through SS for a supplemental. You must either send for or fill out an application and wait for them to determine if you meet the criteria...Your co-pay, if accepted will drop down to $1-5 per RX.

Problem is, many seniors do not know this is happening to them...Please, please, check this out withing your own families..Don't be caught with your pants down like we were!!

I realize, living in California...my situation may be a bit different, as far as actual supplements go, but I assure you...regardless of where you live, your co-pays are pretty well written in stone.

For those of you with no coverage at all, perhaps $40 helps you...but for those who are already on plans that have been working well for them, they should have had the option to not have to change!