Using Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage @ (NAPSA)—As the new year begins, people with Medicare who have already joined a Medicare drug plan can take advantageof the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. Since this is a new program for Medicare, you might have questions about how to use your Medicare drug plan. For instance, what if you joined a plan but haven't received a plan ID card in the mail yet? Or, what if your drugs were covered by Medicaid and youre not sure how to get your med- icines now? Whatever questions you have, Medicare has answers. First Pharmacy Trip Here are sometips people with Medicare can use to make sure their first trip to the pharmacy goes smoothly: When you first join a Medicare drug plan, you'll get an acknowledgementletter in the mail about a week after you join. Your plan ID card should arrive three to five weekslater. If you need to go to the pharmacy before your ID card arrives, bring the acknowledgementletter from your plan, your Medicare and/or Medicaid card, and a photo ID. Save the receipts from your pharmacist. For additional assistance, call 1-800-MEDICARE,24 hours a day, seven days a week. People with Medicare and Medicaid If your pharmacist is having trouble confirming what plan you're in or whether you also get Medicaid, he can also call a special toll-free number that Medicare set up for pharmacists to get help. People with Medicare who also get Medicaid should beable to get their prescriptions filled with minimal copayments and no deductibles. Howto Join a Plan If you haven’t joined a Medicare drug plan yet, don’t worry. You have until May 15, 2006 to choose and join a plan without having to pay a penalty. Call 1-800- MEDICARE(1-800-633-4227; TTY users call 1-877-486-2048) to learn about your options for getting the coverage you need, and the conve- nience and peace of mind you deserve. You can also visit www.medicare.gov on the Web. This information prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices.
