Help May Be Available for Medicare Recipients

Do You Qualify For Help in Paying Your Medicare Costs?

The Medicare Savings Program, a new Program for the FL Dept of Elder Affairs and Elder Options of Gainesville, is trying to find Medicare beneficiaries to qualify for help in paying their Medicare Part D Drug Plan costs (Extra Help/LIS) and/or to have their Medicare Part B Premium ($96.40 or $110.50) paid.

To qualify for Part D assistance, you must have income and assets below:

Single Income is $1,354/month Assets total $12,510*

Couple Income is $1,822/month Assets total $25,010*

To qualify to have your Part B Premium paid, you must have income and assets below:

Single Income is $1,219/month Assets total $6,600*

Couple Income is $1,640/month Assets total $9,910*

*Asset types vary by program, but both do count all your cash in the bank (checking and savings), stocks, bonds, CDs, annuities, and any other real-property. They do not count your home or the land it is on, nor do they count at least one vehicle.

Call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-262-2243 and ask for the Medicare Savings Program Specialist to contact you to see if you qualify to apply for one or both programs or come by the Cedar Key Lion`s Club Health Fair on Friday, March 5th at 809 - 6th St from 9:30am-1:30pm.