A Call to Action from CMS for Medicare prescription coverage

[Guest guest]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is in the process ofimplementing the The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is in the process ofimplementing the Medicare prescription drug coverage. All Medicarebeneficiaries – no matter how they get their health care today or whetherthey have existing drug coverage – will be eligible for drug coverage undera Medicare prescription drug plan. These plans will cover both brand nameand generic drugs. And, very importantly, there will be extra help forthose in need, which is why I am writing this message to you today.We are committed to making sure that everyone who qualifies for that extrahelp gets it. Almost eight million people will automatically qualify forextra help. Beginning in late May through June, people with Medicare andMedicaid, people in a Medicare Savings Program, and those who receiveSupplemental Security Income will receive a letter from Medicare tellingthem they will receive the extra help automatically so they do not have toapply. The notices may be viewed athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/lir.asp. If you or a loved onereceives this letter please be assured that this means you or they willhave continuous prescription drug coverage with small out of pocket costs.Additionally, there is extra help for people who do not automaticallyqualify but who do have limited income and resources. The Social SecurityAdministration (SSA) is working with CMS to help these people apply forthis extra help and get pre-qualified for this assistance before theenrollment period for the prescription drug coverage plans begins in theFall. Social Security will be mailing a letter and an application toalmost 19 million people beginning in late May and the mailings willcontinue through August. We encourage everyone who receives this letterand application to fill out this application so they can get the extra helpfrom Medicare to pay for their prescription drug coverage. This letter canviewed at http://www.ssa.gov/organizations/medicareoutreach2/ on the web.Select “Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.We’re committed to making sure that everyone who qualifies for extra helpgets it. Medicare and Social Security will be conducting thousands ofcommunity outreach events in the next six months to let people know aboutthis important and significant extra assistance for drug coverage. We areworking closely with hundreds of organizations, community groups andthousands of volunteers to help those who qualify for extra assistance bothknow about it and apply. This is a nationwide grassroots effort, whichwill be successful because of the commitment of both national and localorganizations. This effort must be successful – we must insure that thosewho qualify for the extra help complete the application so in November theycan enroll in a prescription drug plan that meets their needs.Please join us in this grassroots effort – we need your assistance inspreading the word about the extra help which will be available to helpthose in need pay for the new and comprehensive Medicare prescription drugcoverage. Please pass this email notice and information on to otherorganizations which would share our commitment to making this programsuccessful and helping millions of Americans cover the costs of theirprescription drugs.Our goal is to make sure that all who might be eligible for extraassistance fill out an application – getting extra help to pay forcomprehensive prescription drug coverage will help improve the quality oflife and health for millions of Americans and I hope you can join us inthis effort.I ask for your help to make this important part of the implementation ofthe new drug coverage a success.Remember to visit our Partner Center athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/default.asp to learn about newoutreach developments and resources.. All Medicarebeneficiaries – no matter how they get their health care today or whetherthey have existing drug coverage – will be eligible for drug coverage undera Medicare prescription drug plan. These plans will cover both brand nameand generic drugs. And, very importantly, there will be extra help forthose in need, which is why I am writing this message to you today.We are committed to making sure that everyone who qualifies for that extrahelp gets it. Almost eight million people will automatically qualify forextra help. Beginning in late May through June, people with Medicare andMedicaid, people in a Medicare Savings Program, and those who receiveSupplemental Security Income will receive a letter from Medicare tellingthem they will receive the extra help automatically so they do not have toapply. The notices may be viewed athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/lir.asp. If you or a loved onereceives this letter please be assured that this means you or they willhave continuous prescription drug coverage with small out of pocket costs.Additionally, there is extra help for people who do not automaticallyqualify but who do have limited income and resources. The Social SecurityAdministration (SSA) is working with CMS to help these people apply forthis extra help and get pre-qualified for this assistance before theenrollment period for the prescription drug coverage plans begins in theFall. Social Security will be mailing a letter and an application toalmost 19 million people beginning in late May and the mailings willcontinue through August. We encourage everyone who receives this letterand application to fill out this application so they can get the extra helpfrom Medicare to pay for their prescription drug coverage. This letter canviewed at http://www.ssa.gov/organizations/medicareoutreach2/ on the web.Select “Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.We’re committed to making sure that everyone who qualifies for extra helpgets it. Medicare and Social Security will be conducting thousands ofcommunity outreach events in the next six months to let people know aboutthis important and significant extra assistance for drug coverage. We areworking closely with hundreds of organizations, community groups andthousands of volunteers to help those who qualify for extra assistance bothknow about it and apply. This is a nationwide grassroots effort, whichwill be successful because of the commitment of both national and localorganizations. This effort must be successful – we must insure that thosewho qualify for the extra help complete the application so in November theycan enroll in a prescription drug plan that meets their needs.Please join us in this grassroots effort – we need your assistance inspreading the word about the extra help which will be available to helpthose in need pay for the new and comprehensive Medicare prescription drugcoverage. Please pass this email notice and information on to otherorganizations which would share our commitment to making this programsuccessful and helping millions of Americans cover the costs of theirprescription drugs.Our goal is to make sure that all who might be eligible for extraassistance fill out an application – getting extra help to pay forcomprehensive prescription drug coverage will help improve the quality oflife and health for millions of Americans and I hope you can join us inthis effort.I ask for your help to make this important part of the implementation ofthe new drug coverage a success.Remember to visit our Partner Center athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/default.asp to learn about newoutreach developments and resources.