Medicare

• I lost my Medicare card.  How do I get a new one?
• I recently moved to another state.  How do I update my address with Medicare?
  
• Does Medicare pay for prescription drugs?
  
• Although I am able to walk, I have a difficult time walking long distances. Would Medicare allow payment for a wheelchair or Power Operated Vehicle (POV)?
  
• Social Security Administration Medicare Web Site

 

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I lost my Medicare Card.  How do I get a new one?

If you lose your card, contact your local Social Security office at 1-800-Medicare or visit the Medicare website immediately to get a new one. Please protect your Medicare card just as you would a credit card. Your Medicare card in the wrong hands can be used to submit fraudulent claims.

Medicare Web Site

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I recenlty moved to another state.  How do I update my address with Medicare?

To protect you and ensure your receipt of your benefits, please let your Social Security office know that your address has changed.

The number for the Social Security Administration is 1-800-772-1213.

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Does Medicare pay For prescription drugs?

The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan is often referred to as Part D.  Each year there is an open-enrollment period, usually begininng  around November 15 and ending around December 31.  During this time seniors who have not signed up in the past can enroll, and seniors who want to switch plans can do so without penalty.

The benefit is entirely optional. Seniors who are satisfied with their PACE coverage or a program offered by their employers can stay with their current plans. However, everyone with Medicare is eligible for the coverage. Seniors are able to choose from a variety of plans offered by private companies. All of the plans offered will meet Medicare’s requirements.

Every senior should review the information carefully and discuss it with their family, doctors, and pharmacists to help make the right decision. For those who choose a Medicare drug program, this is how it works:

• The benefit covers both generic and brand-name drugs.
• Medicare, like most insurance, covers a significant portion of prescription drug bills. Seniors will be responsible for paying the first $250 in drug costs each year, called the deductible.
• After the deductible, Medicare will pay for 75 percent of drug costs up to $2,250 each year.
• If a senior’s out-of-pocket costs are more than $3,600, Medicare will pay for 95 percent of the remaining costs.
• Extra help is available for low-income seniors.

The Medicare Prescription Drug program has saved seniors an average of $1,100 , and helped many low-income seniors access affordable medicines. Almost 90 percent of Medicare recipients have saved money with the program.

There are several resources if you have additional questions, including:

• You can ask questions and request information for yourself, a parent, or a friend by calling the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid at 1-800-MEDICARE.
• If you have internet access, you can visit the site www.Medicare.gov to learn more about Part D. This site can also help you find a plan that’s right for you.
• You can visit www.BenefitsCheckUp.org, a site sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services. This site helps seniors determine if they qualify for additional low-income coverage, and lists the information seniors will need when choosing a plan.

Even if you do not take a lot of prescription drugs now, it is still a good idea to consider your options. Enrolling in a plan now will mean lower monthly premiums. Please sit down with those close to you and make the decision right to you. I encourage anyone who has any questions to feel free to contact my district office at (412) 344-5583 and my staff can assist you

 

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Although I am able to walk, I have a difficult time walking long distances.  Would Medicare allow payment for a wheelchair or Power Operated Vehicle (POV?)

Medicare wheelchair and POV coverage guidelines indicate that in order to allow payment for a wheelchair, a person with Medicare must be bed or chair-confined without the use of a wheelchair. Furthermore in terms of POV all of the following criteria must be met: You require a wheelchair to maneuver in your home; You cannot operate a manual wheelchair; You can safely operate the controls of a POV; You can transfer safely to and from a POV and have adequate trunk stability to safely ride in a POV You need a prescription from your physician prior to purchasing the POV, and the physician and supplier must complete a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN).

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Social Security Administration Medicare Web Site