Confused about the Medicare approved prescription drug discount card?
You’re not alone.
“There are a lot of myths,” said Aimee McKim, executive director of Volunteers Intervening for Equity (VIE), who has made about 50 presentations on the drug discount card since April.
“The first thing we do at all of our workshops is dispel the many myths about the cards, then we educate people about the options available and how they can personally benefit,” she said.
Some of those myths:
- There is an income requirement to get a card. Not true, McKim said. “Anyone can get a card.”
- It’s only for certain Medicare clients. No, McKim said, anyone on Medicare can get a card if they are not on Medicaid.
- Medicare and/or drug companies are selling the discount cards. Also, untrue, McKim said, noting it’s usually pharmacy benefit managers or private insurance companies that are selling the cards.
McKim reminds the public that this temporary program will end on Dec. 31, 2005 and be replaced in 2006 by prescription drug insurance under Medicare, which was the focus of last year’s overhaul of the government health program for older and disabled Americans. “People get confused between that and what we have now,” McKim said.
So is it worth participating in the temporary program? “It varies so much based on the medication a person is taking,” said McKim, encouraging individuals to study the program to see how it might benefit them. “Depending on the number of medications someone is taking, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to compare available drug cards in Nebraska.”
Few people realize there are 42 discount cards in Nebraska, McKim said. “Each company is marketing their card,” she said, so it’s important to know if your medication is covered under a particular card, and if so, will your pharmacy accept that particular card.
An online chat today (July 27) and Thursday (July 29) will clarify the Medicare approved prescription drug discount card program and offer individuals an opportunity to ask questions. The one-hour chats, which are hosted by McKim and sponsored by UNMC, are scheduled to start today at 11 a.m. and Thursday at 7 p.m. on Omaha.com.
Prior to the discussion, individuals should visit www.healthwiseseries.com to download a fact sheet and a worksheet that will serve as important tools during the live online discussion. Participants also are encouraged to submit their questions early. After the discussion, the questions and answers will be posted on www.healthwiseseries.com.
VIE volunteers have been trained by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid and the Senior Health Insurance Information Program of the Nebraska Insurance Department to help senior citizens and their families review the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and make the best selection.
Individuals may schedule personal appointments with VIE volunteers to further discuss the drug discount cards. The VIE office at 4601 S. 50th St., Ste. 213 in Omaha, is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.