Congresswoman Chellie Pingree warns seniors to beware of scams
 
Beginning this week, thousands of Maine seniors will start getting $250 checks to help them with prescription drug prices, as part of the recent health care reform passed by Congress.
 
“Prescription drug costs are a big burden for seniors,” Pingree said.  “Prescriptions end up costing many people thousands of dollars a year and this check is a down payment on reducing prescription drug costs for seniors and eventually closing the doughnut hole altogether. “

Medicare recipients don’t have to do anything to get the check—once their drug costs for the year hit $2,830 the checks will be issued automatically.  But Pingree warned seniors to be on the lookout for fraud.
 
“Unfortunately, scam artists around the country have been preying on seniors expecting this check,” Pingree said.  “They call seniors and tell them they need to give out personal information like Social Security numbers and bank accounts to get the checks.  That’s completely untrue and if you get a call like that you should hang up and call the Attorney General’s office.”
 
Pingree said the $250 checks are just the first step in reducing prescription drug prices under health care reform.  Next year seniors in the doughnut hole will get a 50 percent discount on name-brand prescription drugs and a 75 percent discount on generics.  The average Maine senior will save $700 next year on prescription drugs because of health care reform.