Pharmacy and Medicare information!
- Pharmacy Technology
- Define pharmacy terminology
- Identify Pharmacies that offer $4 programs and free prescription pricing
- Differentiate between $4 programs and "savings clubs"
- Utilitze $4 programs and free prescription programs to avoid the donut hole at the pharmacy
Preferred Provider - will charge less when filling your prescriptions
Pharmacy Terminology
"Cash" paying patient - Does not have insurance, paying full price, and the way on how you want to explain to get $4 drug w/o billing Medicare D.
RX# - Number on script to tell Pharmacist what script you need.
$4 pricing programs offered at - Schnucks, Wal-Mart, Target, Meijer, County Market and Hy-Vee.
Pharmacies offering free medications - Schnucks and Meijer
Schnucks - Antibiotics and Prenatal vitamins
Meijer - Antibiotics
Must have Dr.'s Script, make sure to have Pharmacist to double
check you scripts with new scripts for interactions.
Changes in Medicare Premiums and Co-Pays
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has announced the new Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurances. The standard Medicare Part B premium is increasing by $5 to $104.90 a month, smaller than the $9 per month increase predicted earlier in the year.
As previously reported, Social Security recipients will receive a 1.7 percent increase in payments in 2013. Most people have their Medicare premiums deducted from their Social Security benefits. The smaller-than-expected hike means that most Medicare recipients will still receive a modest boost in Social Security benefits.
Here are all the new Medicare figures:
- Part B premium: $104.90/month (was $99.90)
- Part B deductible: $147 (was $140)
- Part A deductible: $1,184 (was $1,156)
- Co-payment for hospital stay days 61-90: $296/day (was $289)
- Co-payment for hospital stay days 91 and beyond: $592/day (was $578)
- Skilled nursing facility co-payment, days 21-100: $148/day (was $144.50)
As directed by the 2003 Medicare law, higher-income beneficiaries will pay higher Part B premiums. Following are those amounts for 2012:
- Individuals with annual incomes between $85,000 and $107,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $170,000 and $214,000 will pay a monthly premium of $146.90 (was $139.90).
- Individuals with annual incomes between $107,000 and $160,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $214,000 and $320,000 will pay a monthly premium of $209.80 (was $199.80).
- Individuals with annual incomes between $160,000 and $214,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $320,000 and $428,000 will pay a monthly premium of $272.70 (was $259.70).
- Individuals with annual incomes of $214,000 or more and married couples with annual incomes of $428,000 or more will pay a monthly premium of $335.70 (was $319.70).
Extra Help
Medicare Medicare Low-Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”) Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for “Extra Help” paying for prescription drugs if they have limited income and resources. The extra help can increase their cost savings by paying for part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The extra help is estimated to be worth an average of $4,000 per year. You may need to reapply annually.
For more information or to apply, contact the Social Security Adminstration at 1-800-772-1213, 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs. To apply online, visit www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
You may also contact: i Illinois Department on Aging Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY), e-mail: aging.ilsenior@illinois.gov. Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP) sites provide free counseling and assistance applying for prescription drug assistance programs, including Benefits Access Applications, Medicare Part D and “Extra Help.” For a list of SHAP sites, visit www.state.il.us/aging/1directory/directory-main.htm#rx-help.
Source: