Nov. 07- Marci's Medicare Answers

Dear Marci, I'm interested in getting a Medicare drug plan, but don't think I can afford it. What can I do? --Bruce Dear Bruce, If you are single and your monthly income is below $1,276 ($1,711 for couples) and your assets are below $11,710 ($23,410 for couples), you may be eligible for Extra Help, a federal program that helps you pay for some or most of the costs of your Medicare prescription drug coverage. Even if your income or assets are above the limit you may still qualify, because certain types of income and assets may not be counted. You can apply for Extra Help through the Social Security Administration, using either the agency's print or online application (available at www.ssa.gov). You can also apply at your local Medicaid Office. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), you automatically qualify for Extra Help, so you do not have to apply for it. --Marci Dear Marci, My doctor says I should get a flu shot this winter. Does Medicare cover flu shots? --Cynthia Dear Cynthia, Yes, Medicare covers 100 percent of the cost of a flu shot once every flu season, which is usually from November through April, with no Part B deductible required. Medicare will pay for the shot no matter where you get it, as long as the health care provider "takes assignment" (agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as payment in full). If you are in a Medicare private health plan, like an HMO or PPO, you may be required to go to a provider in their network and pay a copay for this service, so call your plan and ask. If you pay for the shot yourself, get a receipt and Medicare will pay you back for some of the cost (which could be less than what the provider charges you). Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to find out where to send your receipt. --Marci Dear Marci, I signed up for a Medicare HMO this year. Do I need to review my choices for next year (2008)? --Agnes Dear Agnes, Yes, it is very important that you review your health plan options, because most Medicare private health plans change their costs and benefits from year to year. A plan that works well for you now may not do so next year. Everyone who has Original Medicare, a Medicare private health plan such as an HMO, or a Medicare private drug plan can choose a new plan between November 15 and December 31. Your plan should have sent you a letter by the end of October to explain how its costs and coverage are changing for 2008. Before you make any decision, call the plan and make sure that it is affordable and your doctors are still in the plan's network. If your plan includes drug coverage, find out if it will continue to cover your prescriptions and at what cost. You should always call the plan to verify the information you have before you sign up. The new plan's coverage will begin January 1. --Marci Marci's Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation's largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To subscribe to "Dear Marci," MRC's free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org.