 Who
says you can’t teach an old dad new twists? All across the
nation this Father’s Day weekend, people are telling their
fathers, grandfathers and other special men in their lives
about a new “twist” in the law that may help them qualify
for extra help paying for costs associated with their
prescription drugs.
When you’re spending time with Dad this weekend, ask him if
he can use some help paying for his prescription drugs. If
so, tell him about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and
the extra help available through Social Security.
If Dad is covered by Medicare and has limited income and
resources, he might be eligible for extra help to pay for
his monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription
co-payments. The extra help is worth an average of $3,900
per year. If you’re met with a resistant, “No, I’ve looked
into it before and I don’t qualify,” then let him know the
law changed in January 2010. As volunteer spokesman Chubby
Checker will tell you, a new “twist” in the law makes it
easier than ever to qualify for the extra help.
Thanks to this new "twist" in the law, we no longer count
any life insurance policy he has as a resource and we no
longer count as income any financial assistance he receives
regularly from someone else to pay his household expenses
like food, mortgage or rent, utilities or property taxes.
Don’t take our word for it, see Chubby Checker’s rocking
message at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.
To qualify, Dad must
be receiving Medicare and:
• Have income limited to $16,245 for an individual or
$21, 855 for a married couple living together. Even if his
annual income is higher, he still may be able to get some
help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and
prescription co-payments. Some examples in which income may
be higher include if he or his wife:
- Support other family members who live with them
- Have earnings from work or
- Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and
• Have resources
limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a
married couple living together. Resources include such
things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count
his house or car as resources.
You can help Dad fill out an easy-to-use online application
at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp. To apply by
phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social
Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for
the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug
Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to the nearest Social Security
office.
You and your dad can learn more about the Medicare
prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods.
Visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). Maybe it’s been a few
years since Dad did the Twist, but saving an extra $3,900 a
year on prescription drugs may help put a new spring in his
step.
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