Senior Savvy

Illinois Cares Rx is Gone, but wait: There’s still help available to you!

Don’t give up hope, there’s plenty of help still available!

The Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) offers free individual counseling services on various Medicare issues. There are several trained SHIP counselors in the Schaumburg Township’s senior and disability services departments who can assist you. Even though Illinois Cares Rx has been eliminated, these friendly folks can help you to find other options to help pay for your prescriptions. Just call 847-884-0030 for an appointment. SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company and does not sell or solicit any type of insurance.

But wait, there’s more!

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, you will continue to receive prescription drug coverage through that plan. You will not be dropped from your Part D plan because the Illinois Cares Rx program is ending. Beginning July 1, 2012, if your Part D plan has a monthly premium, you will have to pay it. If you don’t pay your premium, you may lose your Part D coverage. Contact your plan to find out how much your premium will be and how you will pay it.

Also beginning July 1, the amount you pay at the pharmacy for each prescription you fill may change. In addition, you will have to pay any remaining deductible (if your Medicare Part D plan has a deductible). However, if you have Extra Help the amounts that you pay for each prescription you fill may remain the same. If you do not have Extra Help, see if you qualify by completing an application with the disability services staff at 847-884-0030.

Since you no longer have Illinois Cares Rx, you can switch to a different Medicare drug plan for the rest of 2012. If you decide to change plans, you must enroll in the new plan between June 1, 2012 and August 31, 2012.

If you have Medicaid and are enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan, you will continue to receive prescription drug coverage through that plan and Medicaid will continue to provide assistance paying for the cost of your Medicare Part D excluded drugs. You will also continue to pay the same co-payment  for your prescription drugs through your Part D plan because you are automatically qualified for the federal government’s Extra Help program.

For assistance comparing drug plan options or finding other options to help pay for your prescriptions, please contact the Schaumburg Township’s disability services at 847-884-0030.

Reprinted from the Schaumburg Township Ablegram newsletter.

Circuit Breaker: Important Update

NOTICE: Effective July 1, 2012, the Circuit Breaker Property Tax Relief Grant is eliminated due to the lack of funding. Pending applications will be processed for grant eligibility on a first come basis through June 30, 2012. If an application is postmarked on or after July 1, only the License Plate Discount, Seniors Ride Free and Persons with Disabilities Ride Free benefits will continue to be processed.

Please understand that the Illinois Department on Aging does not have discretion in the funding of this grant. If you have any questions, please call 1-800-624-2459.

As of July 1, 2012, Illinois Cares Rx will be terminated. That means that Illinois Cares Rx will no longer help pay for prescription drugs and Medicare Part D premiums. It is important that individuals contact their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to find out what their premium and prescription drug costs will be beginning July 1, 2012.

If you have questions or would like to locate a Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP) site near you for assistance, contact the Senior HelpLine at 800-252-8966, 1-888-206-1327 (TTY).

http://www.cbrx.il.gov/

Scamming seniors? Not on our watch!

Seniors: Don’t let con artists and telemarketers scam you out of money! Guest speaker Shelley Bernhardt, director of Consumer Protection for Western Union, will talk about the “Grandparent Scam” and other swindles in which seniors are asked to send money. Senior citizens, family members, and caregivers are invited to attend this free event.

Join us for either (or both!) sessions of this wonderful program at the Schaumburg Township District Library on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m., or attend the earlier session at Schaumburg’s Prairie Center for the Arts at 11 a.m.

For more information, visit the Village of Schaumburg’s website: http://www.ci.schaumburg.il.us/Docs/Press/Pages/FraudPreventionPresentationForSeniorCitizens.aspx