Tips for Seniors in the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Gap (NAPSA)—Someseniors who use Medicare to pay for their prescription drugs may encounter the coverage gap, or the “donut hole.” After a certain amount ($2,400 in 2007), Medicare temporarily stops paying for prescriptions, and you must pay for your medicines outof-pocket. Medicare resumes paying for prescriptions after you reach the out-of-pocket limit ($3,850 in 2007). These amounts include both what you spend and what your plan contributes toward your medicines. Most seniors won’t have to think about the coverage gap, since it is likely to affect only about 8 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. But if you are affected by @ read and save all monthly statements from your plan. Keep an expense log to track your monthly costs. A sample log is includedin the brochure. Never stop taking your medicines as prescribed during the coverage gap. If you have high total costs and don’t have extra help during the coverage gap, you can consider switching during open enrollment season (November 15 to December 31, 2007) to a plan that doesn’t have a coverage gap. The brochure is available in English and Spanish through the Federal Citizen Information Cen- it, you can take steps to prepare. ter. There are three easy ways to request copies of the brochure, titled Resources for Medicare Beneficiaries: Navigating the Coverage Gap (publication number 653P): prescription drug coverage, can address to Publication Num- A brochure available through Your Pharmacy Benefit (YPB), an effort to educate consumers about their help you understand and manage the coverage gap. “This brochure describes ways to make sure you don’t get stuck in the coverage gap longer than you need to be,” said Pat Adams, vice president of external affairs at the National Pharmaceutical Council, one of the organizations involved in YPB. “It also directs people to resources that may help them get extra help during the prescription coverage gap.” The brochure offers specific tips, such as the following: Check with your health care provider to see if there are other lower-cost medicines that will work for you. Save all your receipts for prescription medicines. Make sure to Send your name and ber 653P, Pueblo, CO 81009. Call toll-free (888)-8PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256), weekdays 8 a.m.to 8 p.m. EST. Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov to place your orderonline or to read and print these and hundreds of other federal publicationsfor free. Other resources provided by Your Pharmacy Benefit focus on choosing, understanding and using prescription coverage. Through a Web site and free brochures, YPB offers suggestions on how to use prescription bene- fits to their full potential, hints on how to save money and tips on what to do when yourprescription is denied for payment. For more information, you can visit www.YourPharmacyBenefit.org.
