Medicare Help Through Social Security
Leo Rossler
Sept. 9 was National Grandparents Day. The next time you visit your grandparents - or anyone on Medicare for that matter - there's something important you may want to consider adding to your activities. Show them how much you care by telling them about the Medicare prescription drug plan - and about the extra help they may be able to get through Social Security.
The high cost of prescription drug costs can be a burden on people with limited income. What better way to show you care than by showing them how to get extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs.
Extra help - available through Social Security - can pay part of their monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth more than $3,300 per year.
To figure out whether they're eligible, Social Security needs to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than the home they live in). To qualify for the extra help, your grandparents must be receiving Medicare and have:
qIncome limited to $15,315 for an individual or $20,535 for a married couple living together.
Even if their annual income is higher, your grandparents still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if they or their spouse:
Support other family members who live with them;
Have earnings from work; or
Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and
Resources limited to $11,710 for an individual or $23,410 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count their house and car as resources.
Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that anyone - family members, friends and caregivers - can complete. You can find it at www.socialsecuri-ty.gov. To apply by phone or get an application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.
To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
So give someone you care about something special: the peace of mind that comes with knowing extra help is available with Medicare prescription drug costs. Then go one step further - help them apply. There is no better way to show how much you care. The Tyler office is located at 5509 S. Donnybrook Ave.
Leo Rossler is a Social Security district manager based in Tyler.
The high cost of prescription drug costs can be a burden on people with limited income. What better way to show you care than by showing them how to get extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs.
Extra help - available through Social Security - can pay part of their monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth more than $3,300 per year.
To figure out whether they're eligible, Social Security needs to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than the home they live in). To qualify for the extra help, your grandparents must be receiving Medicare and have:
qIncome limited to $15,315 for an individual or $20,535 for a married couple living together.
Even if their annual income is higher, your grandparents still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if they or their spouse:
Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that anyone - family members, friends and caregivers - can complete. You can find it at www.socialsecuri-ty.gov. To apply by phone or get an application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security office.
To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).
So give someone you care about something special: the peace of mind that comes with knowing extra help is available with Medicare prescription drug costs. Then go one step further - help them apply. There is no better way to show how much you care. The Tyler office is located at 5509 S. Donnybrook Ave.
Leo Rossler is a Social Security district manager based in Tyler.
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