Medicare Savings Programs can be a big help
April 19, 2019
By: Mark Harvey
Email: harvemb@dshs.wa.gov
What I’m about to tell you represents two of the quickest and easiest ways I know of to genuinely help folks on Medicare, who are NOT “well to do” AND because these numbers change periodically, so PLEASE READ THIS, whether you find it interesting or not! Because, if it doesn’t help you, it may help someone you know.
Let me ask you this: If you’re single, is your income at or below $1,426 per month? If you’re married, is it at or below $1,923 per month? Yes? OK.
If you’re single, are your assets at or below $7,730? Don’t count the house or the car or your stuff, just money in the bank, stocks, bonds, other real estate, etc – Yes?
If you’re a couple, are your assets at or below $11,600? Yes?
Then you probably just got your Medicare Part B premium paid for, to the tune of $100+ per month.
Yes, I’m serious. There are three programs that are referred to as the “Medicare Savings Programs.” They are known by weird acronyms, like QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary), SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) and QI (Qualifying Individual) – I don’t care if you remember that, but I do care if you remember this: The last two will pay for your Part B premiums and the first one (QMB) will also pay your Part B deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
We’re talking about paying for the heat here, right? Or food? Or medicine? Now, try this:
If your income and assets are at or below the figures above, you also qualify for Medicare Part D “extra help” (aka “Low Income Subsidy”). “Extra help” covers all or part of Part D premiums, deductibles, some co-pays and provides coverage through the “gap” (aka “donut hole”). As a matter of fact, you’re income and assets can be a bit higher than the figures above and still get some partial help with your Part D plan!
If you’re on Medicare and not comatose, you understand what I just said, more or less. If you’re suddenly NOT paying for Part B premiums (and maybe more) AND you’re reducing or eliminating your Part D premiums and deductibles AND getting prescription drug coverage through the donut-hole, your household income just went UP! And if anybody is reading this and thinking “greedy geezer,” please do NOT e-mail me about that, because I find that to be staggeringly idiotic and really don’t want to waste my time (or yours) arguing about it.
And for those of you who are Medicaid wonks, Yes: The Medicare Savings Programs are a form of Medicaid, but they are specifically exempted from estate recovery, so all is well.
AND, by the way, everything I’ve just talked about is just as true (and available!) in Indian Country, as it is anywhere else.
Please act on this, or cut this column out and stick it squarely in the face of somebody you care about, because there are thousands of us in these counties who qualify for these things and just don’t know it! So, we just don’t do it, and then we struggle – And things often go downhill from there.
No, these won’t make you rich, but they will help – Considerably! – Every day of every month.
What do you do? Well, the easiest way (if you’ve got the equipment and the savvy) is to go to https://www.washingtonconnection.org/home/ to apply for the Medicare Savings Programs; usually, when you apply for those, the “system” will set you up with Part D “extra help” automatically. OR, you can go to the Social Security web site (I know, but that’s how it works) to https://www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp/ to apply for “extra help.”
OR, you can call any of the numbers at the end of this column and say any of the terms I’ve used here, and decent people will know what you’re talking about and help you – For free.
That’s it. That’s all. Please don’t be intimidated by or get hung-up about (or hung-up in) the bureaucracy or acronyms or whatever – Who cares?? We’re talking about your life here! And it will NOT help your kids (or anybody else) for you to do without, when you could do something about it and reduce some of the worry – Yours and theirs.
Just do it. If you need help, call these numbers – It’ll go well, I promise.
Help yourself. Please.
Mark Harvey is the director of Information and Assistance for Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached at harvemb@dshs.wa.gov or 532-0520 in Aberdeen, (360) 942-2177 in Raymond or (360) 642-3634. FACEBOOK: Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.