Recent changes to Medicare law ease requirements that hinder people from qualifying for financial assistance for prescription drug costs. Twists in the law (publicized by Chubby Checker, BTW) eliminate the cash assistance people receive from others to pay for household expenses and the value of life insurance from counting as resources. Also the application for extra help now can start the application process for Medicare Savings Programs or those state programs that provide help with other Medicare costs. To learn more about the extra help program go to www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp. The extra help program currently provides assistance to more than nine million senior and disabled Americans, saving them an average of almost $4,000 a year on their Medicare prescription drug plan costs.
Updated: 2010-01-08 10:04:34