Medicare-approved Drug Discount Card

Preferred Card Sponsor for Low Cost Drug Program members (DEL)
Information and Special Instructions for current DEL members

On December 8, 2003 President Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. The Medicare prescription drug benefit created by the law doesn't start until 2006. In the meantime, you can enroll in a Medicare-approved drug discount card program.

• If you have Medicare you can get a prescription drug discount card that is approved by Medicare. This is a temporary plan until the Medicare drug benefits start in 2006.
• You can decide whether or not you want a drug discount card. If you have MaineCare (Medicaid) drug benefits, you cannot get a card.
• There are several cards for you to choose from. You will need to check out what each card offers for discounts and pick the one that is best for you.
• The Medicare-approved drug discount cards will provide discounts on prescription drugs. You will need to bring your card to the pharmacy to get discounts of about 10-25% off retail prices on drugs covered by the card.
• You will pay no more than $30 per year to get a card.
• If you have low income you may get a $600 credit on the card in 2004 and 2005 and may not have to pay $30 to get a card.
• Call us or your local area agency on aging if you have questions.
  

Additional Prescription Drug Discount Card resources
Document:	Word Version	Adobe Version
Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card The Medicare Modernization Act passed by Congress in 2003, adds new prescription drug benefits to Medicare in 2006. In the meantime, the Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program gives temporary help until the Medicare drug benefit starts in January 2006.
$600 Transitional Assistance If your income is below a certain level, Medicare may pay your annual fee for a Medicare-approved drug discount card and pay up to $600 in each of 2004 and 2005 toward your prescription costs.

Medicare-approved Drug Discount Card Programs in Maine

Go to www.medicare.gov for up-to-date information about the Medicare-approved drug discount cards.

Medicare has a new Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs (PDAP) page. This page has been created to help you make a choice about the Medicare-approved drug discount card. By entering the names of the drugs you take, the tool will compare monthly costs for different plans. You can compare costs of one or up to 25 drugs, with prices available for various dosages. You can also compare cards by limiting the choice of participating pharmacies within a certain distance from your home.

The Maine SHIP will help you compare Medicare-approved Drug Discount Cards available in Maine. Call the Maine SHIP at 1-877-353-3771 (TTY 1-800-750-5353).

The Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) will help you sign up for a card. Be aware that card sponsors are not allowed to make "cold calls" to you by phone or in person. If someone contacts you to get you to sign up for a card, do not give them any personal information such as your social security number, financial information, etc. as they may be trying to rip you off.		Medicare-approved companies are required to display the following logo on their materials:

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Call SHIP at:

Area Agency on Aging 1-877-353-3771 (TTY 1-800-750-5353) Legal Services for the Elderly 1-800-750-5353 (Voice and TTY) Bureau of Elder & Adult Services 1-800-262-2232 (TTY 1-888-720-1925)