Using Your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

As the new year begins, folks with Medicare who have already joined a Medicare drug strategy can take advantage of the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. Because this is a new plan for Medicare, you could medical fraud have concerns about how to use your Medicare drug strategy. For instance, what if you joined a program but haven't received a program ID card in the mail but? Or, what if your drugs were covered by Medicaid and you're not certain how to get your medicines now? Whatever questions you have, Medicare has answers.

Initial Pharmacy Trip

Right here are some tips folks with Medicare can use to make positive their first trip to the pharmacy goes smoothly:

• When you very first join a Medicare drug strategy, you'll get an acknowledgement letter in the mail about a week right after you join. Your program ID card should arrive three to five weeks later.

• If you require to go to the pharmacy ahead of your ID card arrives, bring the acknowledgement letter from your plan, your Medicare and/or Medicaid card, and a photo ID.

• Save the receipts from your pharmacist.

• For extra help, call 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, seven diagnosis codes for medicare days a week.

Men and women with Medicare and Medicaid

If your pharmacist is having difficulty confirming what program you are in or whether or not you also get Medicaid, he can also call a specific toll-cost-free number that Medicare set up for pharmacists to get aid. Individuals with Medicare who also get Medicaid must be able to get their prescriptions filled with minimal copayments and no deductibles.

How to Join a Plan

If you haven't joined a Medicare drug plan but, don't be concerned. You have healthcare fraud until Might 15, 2006 to choose and join a strategy with no having to pay a penalty