Many low-income seniors go without enhanced Medicare drug coverage

Aug 11 2011

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which says that as many as 2 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries are not enrolled in the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy Program, is stepping up efforts to market the assistance to consumers.

Modern Healthcare: CMS Promotes Drug Subsidy Program
The CMS on Tuesday estimated that more than 2 million Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for — but not enrolled in — a subsidy program to help cover prescription drug costs. Beneficiaries with incomes less than $16,335 a year, or $22,065 for a married couple, and have resources limited to $12,640, or $25,260 for a married couple, qualify for the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy Program—also known as LIS or "Extra Help." Resources include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but do not include a beneficiary's house, car or life insurance policies (Zigmond, 8/9).

CQ HealthBeat: CMS: Many Seniors Missing Out Needlessly On Full Medicare Drug Coverage
About 2 million low-income beneficiaries are needlessly going without enhanced prescription drug coverage available to them in the Medicare program, federal officials announced Tuesday. To help whittle down that number, officials are publicizing the fact that it's easier than it used to be to qualify for the benefits offered by the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), or "Extra Help" program, as it's marketed to consumers. That's because certain assets and types of income that might have disqualified an applicant from receiving the extra drug coverage in the past are no longer counted toward eligibility (Reichard, 8/9)