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Woodstock Times - Health | 1/8/2009 |
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Where to get help with Part D
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by Sigrid Heath
The building that houses the various human services offices at 1061 Development Court on Ulster Avenue in Kingston takes up a lot of space. There are a number of entrances. If you're not sure where you're going, which office you should visit first to address your particular needs, it can be daunting.
And then there's the problem of having to be there at all. Ironically, as the depression deepens and more people need help, asking for it may carry less stigma than in flusher times. But embarrassment keeps many people from seeking services for which they're eligible and which would make their lives easier. It's an unfortunate way of looking at things, says Kari Hastings, Medicare Part D Coordinator for Ulster County's Office for Aging.
Using food stamps as an example, Hastings said, "I wish they'd call it something else, 'nutritional assistance', perhaps." She said people consider it "welfare" and the building where Hastings works is where you admit defeat and go get welfare. So much for our classless society. Let's get over it.
Medicare Part D offers a plethora of plans to cover prescription medications. If you're not pleased with your current plan, the period that began January 1 and runs through March 31 is an opportunity to change it. You can't initiate Part D or drop it during this time, but you might be able to find a plan more suitable to your current needs.
The premium you pay for Part D depends on the plan you choose. Ulster County has 51 prescription drug plans available under Medicare Part D.
You can review them by going online to http://www.medicare.gov/MPDPF/Public/Include/DataSection/Results/ListPlanByState.asp, select New York, and then select Ulster County.
Monthly premiums range from $0 to about $170. Some plans have deductibles; some do not. During the infamous gap in Part D coverage, some plans offer no coverage, some will pay for generic drugs only, some will cover "some," "few," or "many" generics.
In addition, Hastings said there are about 30 "Advantage Plans" that are aggressively advertising for enrollment. "There's a great deal of misrepresentation in the information out there [on the Advantage Plans]," said Hastings. It's not all intentionally fraudulent, she said, in many cases the plans' directories are simply out of date.
Having reviewed the Medicare site, and the Plan D Prescription Drug Plan site, I would not want to make a decision about a change in my coverage without advice. Hastings has a staff of ten volunteers each of whom has received "intensive training" and can help you negotiate this morass.
In addition, there's the chance you may be eligible for programs you don't know about, such as Social Security Extra Help that pays the entire Part D premium. Responding to the current crisis, many programs have changed eligibility requirement. On a recent visit to her office, Hastings told me that the Home Energy Assistance Program, HEAP, is automatically available to anyone receiving food stamps no matter how minimal the amount of your food stamp benefit. Food stamps, incidentally, have become very easy to use, with the issuance of a debit card you swipe at check-out. Most farmers' markets accept them; money from your card balance is converted to tokens you use as cash.
It might be wise to take a deep breath, reconsider your definition of self-reliance, call and make an appointment. Remember the deadline to change your Medicare Part D plan is March 31. Look into other available programs. The number for the Office For The Aging (that could use a name change, as well) is 845 340-3456. For information about HEAP and food stamp benefits, call 1-800-342-3009.++
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