CENTERS FOR MEDICARE& MEDICAID SERVICES Quick Facts about Medicare's New Coverage for Prescription Drugs If You Applied for Extra Help You'veappliedforextrahelpwithMedicareprescriptiondrugcostsusingSocial Security'sapplication,sowhathappensnext? SocialSecuritywillbeginprocessingapplicationsforextrahelponJuly1,2005. Ifyouronlineorpaperapplicationisnotcomplete,SocialSecuritywillcallyouor writetoyouaskingforthemissinginformation.Yourapplicationwillbeprocessedas quicklyaspossible,andyouwillreceivealetterinthemailtellingyouifyouqualify. What do need to know? I • Applyingforextrahelpisjustonestep.YoustillneedtojoinaMedicare prescriptiondrugplantogetMedicareprescriptiondrugcoverage. • Evenifyoudon'tqualifyforextrahelp,youshouldstillconsiderjoininga Medicareprescriptiondrugplan.IfyoujoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplan, Medicarepaysabouthalfofyourprescriptiondrugcosts,evenwithoutany extrahelp. • YoucanjoinaMedicareprescriptiondrugplanNovember15,2005through May15,2006,butthesooneryoujointhesooneryou'llstartsavingmoneyon yourprescriptiondrugcosts.IfyoujoinaplanbyDecember31,2005,your coveragewillbeginJanuary1,2006.IfyoujoinafterJanuary1,2006,your coveragestartsthefirstofthemonthafterthemonthyoujoin. PUBS HG C>i3Library C2-07-13 9391 7500Socu-ii-yBlvd. .5 Bakimora, Harytend 21244 U5 Q54 2005 *1V ensLIBRARY How can get more information? I Ifyouneedmoreinformationaboutyourapplicationforextrahelp, • callSocialSecurityat1-800-772-1213.TTYusersshouldcall1-800-325-0778. • visitwww.socialsecurity.govontheweb. Ifyouhaven'tyetappliedforextrahelpwithyourMedicareprescriptiondrug costs,youshouldknowthatmanypeoplewillreceiveanapplicationforextrahelp inthemail.Ifyouthinkyouqualify,fillitoutandreturnitintheenclosed postagepaidenvelope.Also,SocialSecurityhasatoolavailableonlinewhereyou canseeifyoumayqualifyforhelpwithyourprescriptiondrugcosts.Inaddition tothetool,beginningJuly1,2005,youcanapplyfortheextrahelponline. FormoreinformationaboutMedicareprescriptiondrugcoverage, • readthe"Medicare&You2006"handbookthatyougetinthemailin October2005. • visitwww.medicare.govontheweb.Select"SearchTools"togetpersonalized information. • callyourStateHealthInsuranceAssistanceProgram(seeyourcopyofthe "Medicare&You2006"handbookfortheirtelephonenumber). • call1-800-MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227).TTYusersshouldcall 1-877-486-2048. • lookforlocalMedicare-relatedevents. II!iGC7ri-25-i-;0lS00t7tLiS-iia1.bcWr3LOa.iriysM-VyfB*iSv.d".^i21244 CMSPub.No.11130 May2005