As many as 700 Texas County residents may qualify for a program that helps pay for Medicare Part D, a prescription program, a non-profit group said Monday.
The program is known as “Extra Help for Medicare Part D” or the “Low-Income Subsidy.” It pays 75 percent or more of prescription drug costs associated with Medicare Part D, the federally subsidized prescription drug program.
Carol Beahan, director of the non-profit CLAIM program, would like to see more people enroll in the program. She estimates 103 are eligible in the Houston zip code.
“Many people don’t think they can afford Medicare drug coverage because it does require cost sharing. That’s what the Extra Help program is for,” Beahan said. “People shouldn’t have to make a choice between buying groceries or buying their medicine. Tight budgets shouldn’t force people to sacrifice their health.
“Some simply may not know they could be eligible for the program. Others might see the program as a handout; but I tell them that every week they have paid for the benefit already. Now’s the time to use it.”
Individuals can have income of $15,480 or married couples, $21,240. There also are resource limits for such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds – a home and car are not included. The limit is $11,990 for individuals and $23,970 for couples.
About 8,460 Texas County residents received Medicare coverage.
Applications for the Extra Help program can be requested by phone by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213. It can be completed online at www.socialsecurity.gov or visit an area Social Security office. CLAIM can also help complete the form or answer other Medicare-related questions by calling 800-390-3330.