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Notch Babies Could Be Eligible For Extra Help Paying For New Medicare Drug Benefit
Alexandria, VA (May 31, 2005) - Seniors born from 1917 through 1926, known as "Notch Babies," should watch their mail for a notice from the Social Security Administration starting this month.[1] "Many Notch Babies may qualify for extra financial assistance to cover their prescription drugs under the new Medicare drug benefit," states George Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). "Notch Babies receive lower benefits than other retirees with almost identical work and earnings records because of some of the changes Congress made to the benefit formula over 25 years ago," Smith says. "According to studies performed for TSCL, many Notch Babies, particularly those who rely on Social Security for most, if not all, of their income, may be living near or below the federal poverty level,"[2] Smith says. The financial help to pay for the Medicare prescription drug benefit is expected to provide an average of $2,100 per year in assistance. It will pay some or all of the monthly drug plan's premiums and deductibles, and most of the co-insurance for prescription drugs covered by new Medicare drug plans. Individual Medicare beneficiaries with incomes as high as $1,197 per month or $1,604 per month for a couple, and who have limited assets, may be eligible for some assistance. Individuals with incomes of $1,077 per month or $1,444 per month for a couple and with limited assets may be eligible for full assistance.[3] "We highly recommend that any senior who receives an application in the mail, complete it and send it in," Smith says. "Our studies confirm that many Notch Babies often have benefits that are some $1,000 to $3,000 per year less than other retirees with similar work and earnings histories [4]," he continues. These seniors are now at the age where they are more likely to have chronic health problems and require multiple prescriptions, " Smith notes. "We believe this new prescription drug assistance could give significant assistance to hundreds of thousands of Notch Babies who are finding it difficult to make their lower Social Security benefits cover their high Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs," he adds. "Medicare beneficiaries who do not receive an application in the mail, and believe they may be eligible should contact their Social Security office to get one," says Smith. "Applying for the assistance is the first step toward getting the drug coverage. Later in the fall seniors will need to shop for a drug plan and enroll in the one that best covers the prescriptions they need," Smith adds. TSCL is a national non-partisan senior issues advocacy organization that lobbies for a correction of the Social Security Notch. Earlier this year Representative Ralph Hall (TX) introduced "The Notch Fairness Act" (H.R. 615) that would provide Notch Babies a choice of either $5,000 payable in four annual installments or a higher monthly benefit. TSCL is a national group of politically active seniors concerned about the protection of their earned Social Security, Medicare, and other retirement benefits. TSCL members participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns designed to ensure governmental bodies, including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, live up to their commitments. For more free information on our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S608L, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org. [1] "Medicare Applications Sent to Low-Income Americans," Robert Pear, The New York times, March 29, 2005. May 2005 | ||||||||
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