3. If you meet the low-income guidelines, then you should consider getting a Medicare-approved drug discount card. The $30 enrollment fee is waived, but you may still have copayments depending on your income. Several of the large drug companies have agreed to provide their medicines free to people with the low-income cards who use up their federal subsidies.

If you have a low income and currently have good coverage through a state plan, the advantages aren’t clear-cut, because your current out-of-pocket expenses (no premium or an inexpensive one, and copayments) may be limited.

Before the program started, some groups were predicting that implementation of the low-income part would get bogged down, so you might have to be prepared for some delays.

4. If you already have a drug discount card from a chain pharmacy or from one of the programs set up by the drug companies (Together Rx, for example), you don’t have to give up that card. You can have only one of the Medicare-approved cards, but you can have as many non-Medicare drug discount cards as you’d like. Bargain hunters might save money by buying different drugs with different cards. AARP is offering a Medicare and a non-Medicare card.

5. If you want to compare the discounts offered by the different cards, go to the Medicare Web site at www.medicare.gov. Medicare announced in April 2004 that it would post all retail drug prices on its Web site. You should be able to search by ZIP code so you can also compare prices offered by different cards at different pharmacies in your area. That’s important because the discounts under one card will vary from one pharmacy to another. You’re supposed to be able to get the same information over the phone by calling 800-633-4227 (toll free).

6. Of course we can’t possibly answer all of your questions about the discount cards. Your best bet is to get on the Internet. Or have someone do it for you. Here are three Web sites we recommend:

Medicare,www.medicare.gov, answers many basic questions. The discount cards are a Medicare program, so you do need to consider the source.

Families USA,www.familiesusa.org, is a nonprofit consumer health organization in Washington, D.C. The group is critical of the discount card program, but the "Medicare Road Show" on its Web site has an excellent explanation of the cards and the larger Medicare drug benefit starting in 2006.

Medicare Rights Center,www.medicarerights.org, is a New York City group whose motto is "your guide through the Medicare maze." The "Things you should know" article about discount cards posted on its Web site is helpful.

Source: http://www.msn.com/

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