The Social Security Administration (SSA), which determines who is eligible for Medicare benefits, is sending out letters to 20 million low-income Medicare enrollees who may qualify for financial assistance under the upcoming Medicare Part D drug benefit.
These beneficiaries will get letters from SSA saying that its "records show you may be eligible to get extra help paying for your prescription drugs." The letter will include an application as well as directions to an online application at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Local SSA offices will be able to help guide patients through the seven-page application. SSA also has a video that walks beneficiaries through the application on its website (http://www.ssa.gov/).
In meetings with NCPA, SSA has stressed that one of the most important things community pharmacists can do is to encourage beneficiaries to fill out as much of the application as possible and to send it in so that SSA can contact the beneficiary and help them determine if they are eligible for the additional financial help.