CENTERS FOR MEDICARE&MEDICAID SERVICES Quick Facts about Medicare's New Coverage for Prescription Drugs for people with limited income and resources StartingJanuary1,2006,Medicarewillofferprescriptiondrugcoverageforall peoplewithMedicare.IfyouhaveMedicareandhavelimitedincomeand resources,youmayqualifyforextrahelppayingforprescriptiondrugs. Whatdo need to know? I • Ifyourannualincomeisbelow$14,355forasingleperson(or$19,245ifyouare marriedandlivingwithyourspouse),youmayqualifyforextrahelp.Slightly higherincomelevelsmayapplyifyouprovideV2supporttootherfamilymembers livingwithyou,orifyouworkorresideinAlaskaandHawaii. • Andifyourresources(includingyoursavingsandstocks,butnotcountingyour homeorcar)areunder$11,500(forasingleperson)orunder$23,000(fora marriedcouple)youmayqualifyforextrahelppayingforyourMedicare prescriptiondrugcosts. • YoucanapplyforthisextrahelpthroughtheSocialSecurityAdministrationor yourStateMedicalAssistanceOffice.SocialSecurityismailingtheapplication forextrahelptothosewhomayqualify.Ifyoureceiveanapplication,fillitout andreturnitintheenclosedpostagepaidenvelope. • Theamountofextrahelpyougetdependsonyourincomeandresources. • YoustillneedtojoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplanforMedicaretopayfor yourdrugcosts. • YoucanjoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplanfromNovember15,2005 throughMay15,2006.IfyoujoinbyDecember31,2005,yourcoveragebegins January1,2006.IfyoujoinafterJanuary1,2006,yourcoveragestartsthefirst dayofthemonthafterthemonthyoujoin. • Ifyouqualifyforextrahelp,youwillhavecontinuousdrugcoverageandwill payonlyasmallamountforyourprescriptions. ensLIBRflRV 3 flOTS 00DLDTT4 fl How do get more information? I Formoreinformationonwhocangetextrahelpwithprescriptiondrugcostsand howtoapply,calltheSocialSecurityAdministrationat1-800-772-1213,orvisit www.socialsecurity.govontheweb.TTYusersshouldcall1-800-325-0778. YouwillreceivedetailedinformationfromMedicareaboutyourchoiceof MedicareprescriptiondrugplansinOctober2005.Youcanlookatthe"Medicare &You2006"handbook,visitwww.medicare.govontheweborcall 1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227).TTYusersshouldcall1-877-486-2048. iyjlUrr.<>r2i^ii— CMSPub.No.11105 May2005 •U.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice:2005—753-153