by Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell

Medicare and prescription drugs have been a topic on everyone's mind since early last year when Congress began working on various proposals to help seniors afford their necessary medications.?Last November, a federal plan was passed under Medicare to provide some degree of prescription coverage for all seniors beginning in January of 2006.?

My office, Governor Holden and the Missouri Senate worked to improve this federal plan by supporting legislation that would coordinate benefits to help fill the $2,850 gap in coverage, known as the doughnut hole, left by the federal Medicare plan. Senate Bill 1371, which died last session, would have created gap coverage for an estimated 100,000 Missouri seniors along with advance information and tools to educate seniors on the federal prescription plan and discount card.?Because of inaction by leadership in the Missouri House, the bill did not pass last session.

On June 1, Medicare began offering prescription drug discount cards, which are available through Dec. 31, 2005. These discount cards will act as temporary relief for Medicare beneficiaries who need help affording the high cost of their prescriptions until the new federal Medicare program begins in 2006.

Seniors across this state are now facing tremendous confusion because of the recent introduction of the Medicare discount cards. With over 40 cards available to Missouri seniors, choosing the one card that will best meet their needs is often a difficult choice for many seniors. By comparing current prescription coverage to the new Medicare cards, seniors will better understand their options.

Under the Medicare prescription drug discount cards, low-income seniors are eligible for additional assistance. Seniors whose annual income is below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level ($12,564 for an individual and $16,848 for married couples) are eligible for a $600 subsidy to help pay for prescriptions. Once enrolled, seniors are required to pay around a 10 percent co-pay until the subsidy runs out.

One of the most effective ways for seniors to determine which cards cover their prescriptions is by going to the official Medicare Web site at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. The Web site provides cost comparison information about the different Medicare cards and eligibility requirements. I encourage seniors to talk with their local pharmacists about their current prescription needs in order to determine which coverage option is best for them. Seniors can also contact CLAIM, Missouri's State Health Insurance Assistance Program at (800) 390-3330, or contact the Missouri office of AARP at (866) 389-5627 for assistance.