Starting January 1, 2006, Medicare will offer prescription drug plans (PDPs) to help you pay for the prescriptions
you need. Medicare PDPs will be offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. You can choose and enroll in the PDP that meets your needs.

Do I have to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan?

If you have Medicare and ADAP, you must enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. ADAP is the payer of last resort and will require you to join a Medicare drug plan in order to receive your ADAP benefits. New York State ADAP will cover many of your Medicare drug plan costs (see below under “How much will it cost me” for details).

When can I sign up?

Open enrollment begins November 15, 2005 and runs to May 15, 2006. New York State ADAP will be sending you a letter explaining how and when you should enroll. If you have specific questions, please call ADAP at 800 542-2437.

How much will it cost me?

New York State ADAP is planning to cover many of the costs of the Medicare Part D plan, including your monthly premium, yearly deductible, and co-payments. Your out-of-pocket costs should be minimal.

How do I pick a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)?

You should choose the best PDP that meets all of your needs. You can change your PDP once a year during the open enrollment period. All PDPs will have to provide at least a standard level of coverage, which Medicare will set. It is a federal requirement that all PDPs provide coverage for all HIV medications. However, this is not true for all non-HIV medications. Callen-Lorde’s Health Education Resource Center will have a list of the PDPs and the medications they cover when that information becomes available.

Consider these questions about which PDP to choose:

Does the PDP cover the medications I take?

Does my pharmacy accept the plan?

How do I get my prescriptions renewed at Callen-Lorde?
Nothing will change about the way you get your prescriptions from Callen-Lorde. We still partner with PharmaCare Specialty Pharmacy on 8 th Avenue and 16 th Street, and we can fax or call in your prescriptions directly to PharmaCare if you prefer. PharmaCare offers home delivery of medications at no extra cost to you.

Where do I get more information?

There is a lot of information available about Medicare Part D at the following websites:

Department of Health and Human Services

The Facts about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.

AARP

USA Today

You can also access more information at Callen-Lorde’s Health Education Resource Center or pick up some of the more extensive handouts Callen-Lorde has available at the Benefits Information table in the lobby. You can also ask a Callen-Lorde staff member for assistance.

 

 

ADAP Plus Insurance Continuation (APIC)

 

ADAP Plus Insurance Continuation (APIC) Application

(Information subject to change) updated 12/06/05