Programs Aim To Help Seniors Sort Out Medicare Cards
By KEVIN DUGGAN
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Monday, August 2, 2004

Three months into the introduction of Medicare-approved discount cards for
prescription drugs, few local seniors are showing interest in the program, advocates
say.

The lack of enthusiasm for the cards can be linked to any number of factors,
including confusion over the program and cynicism about its intentions, said
Margaret Long, director of the Larimer County Office on Aging.

But that shouldn't stop seniors from looking into the program, she said.

"It's worth their time to see whether it might save them some money," Long said. "It's
certainly worth our time to help them figure that out."

For low-income seniors, the benefits of knowing their options could be especially
significant, she said. They could be eligible for a $600 annual credit toward the cost
of prescriptions for the next two years.

"That could be a lot of food for some people," she said. "That could keep the heat
on next winter."

The Office on Aging and other local agencies say they are willing and able to help
seniors learn about the cards and their options for saving money on prescriptions.

And even though 45 different discount cards are available in Colorado, seniors and
disabled people enrolled in Medicare can discern fairly easily which card would best
suit their needs, said Stacy White, caregiver support coordinator for the Office on
Aging.

The first steps are knowing what medications they are taking, the dosages and how
much they spend monthly on prescriptions. If a senior is willing to fill out a form with
that information, the office or anyone else with Internet access can do the rest.

The information can be plugged into electronic forms on Medicare's Web site --
www.medicare.gov -- and in a few seconds a listing of the cards that match the
combination of prescriptions and how much, if any, savings might be realized will
appear on the screen.

Federal officials say seniors can save 10 percent to 20 percent on prescription,
White said, although some seniors might not see any savings.

It all depends on the medications and what other programs they are enrolled in,
such as discount cards from pharmaceutical manufacturers or insurance
companies.

"It's sometimes the combination of programs that can help people reduce their
prescription costs," she said. "There is no one solution."

Ray Heley, 83, of Fort Collins, said he hasn't paid attention to the cards because he
doesn't take many medications. He is enrolled in Medicare, and also has
prescription coverage through a supplemental plan.

"I can see for someone who is paying $600 or $700 a month for medications they
could be pretty important," he said.

But Heley said he wants to learn more about the program. A local support group for
patients and families affected by Parkinson's disease he belongs to has arranged to
have a speaker address the issue at an upcoming meeting.

"I think that will be pretty interesting," he said.

Eileen Hendee, coordinator of the Aspen Club, a community program through
Poudre Valley Health System geared toward seniors, said there is still a lot of
uncertainty about the cards.

And the fact that the best source of information about the program is the Medicare
Web site doesn't help, she said. Many seniors are not comfortable with computers.

"If you're not computer savvy, it can be pretty frustrating," she said.

That's why seniors should ask an advocacy office -- or perhaps their adult children -
- for help in working through a computer, she said.

Cards cost up to $30, although they are free for low-income seniors. The cards will
be valid until 2006, when the full Medicare prescription drug program passed last
year by Congress is scheduled to go into effect.

Paul Butler, of Butler Lemay Pharmacy, 1009 S. Lemay Ave., said he has seen a
few Medicare-approved discount cards come through his store, but not as many as
he expected.

They also are less plentiful than other discount cards offered by manufacturers and
insurance companies.

"I think there is still a lot of confusion about this," Butler said. "People come in here
and they have a lot of questions."

Office on Aging workers are conducting extensive research with their clients to let
them know about the program and the $600 credit, Long said.

Seniors should know their options, she said, and not get put off by negative
publicity about the cards or the politics that hangs over them.

"Bottom line is in this transitional program, there are going to be some benefits to at
least certain people," Long said. "That's what we're determined to try to deal with --
not to say it's the greatest thing since sliced bread or that it's a bunch of hogwash --
we know there are benefits for seniors and disabled people. That's what we're
focusing on."

Need help?

Information on Medicare-approved prescription discount cards is available online at
http://www. medicare.gov or by calling (800) Medicare -- (800) 633-4227.

Local agencies that can help seniors through the process of making informed
choices about Medicare cards include:

Larimer County Office on Aging -- 498-6807

The Aspen Club, Poudre Valley Health System -- 495-8560

The Seasons Club, McKee Medical Center -- 635-4097

Information on a voucher program to assist low-income seniors with prescription
costs is available through the Health District of Northern Larimer County, 416-6519,
and McKee Medical Center, 635-4017.

SOURCE: The Coloradoan, CO - Aug 2, 2004
http://www.coloradoan.com/news/stories/20040802/news/963139.html

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