Table Of ContentThe Affordable Care Act passedbyCongress and
signedby President Obamathis year contains some
importantbenefits for Medicare recipients.
Ifyou have Medicare prescription drug coverage, and
aren't alreadygetting Medicare Extra Help, Medicare
will automatically sendyou a tax free, one-time $250
rebate check afteryou reach the coverage gap (also
called the "donut hole") in 2010. This rebate is the
first step toward closingthe Medicare prescription
drug coverage gap.
What is the coverage gap and how will I
know if I've reached it?
MostMedicare drugplans have a coverage gap. This
means that afteryou andyourplanhave spentacertair
amount ofmoneyfor covered drugs,youhave topay
all costs out-of-pocketforyourdrugs (upto alimit).
The Explanation ofBenefits notice, whichyour
drugplan mails to you each month when you fill a
prescription, will tellyou howmuchyouve spent
on covered drugs andwhetheryou've entered the
coverage gap.
Will need to do anything to get this rebate
I
check?
No. There are no forms to fill out. Medicare will
automatically send a checkthat's made out to you.
You don't need to provide anypersonal information
like your Medicare, Social Security, orbankaccount
numbers to get the rebate check. Don't giveyour
personal information to anyonewho callsyou
about the $250 rebate check. Call 1-800-MEDICARI
(1-800-633-4227) to report anyone who does this.
TTY
users should call 1-877-486-2048.
MEDICAID SERVICES
When will get the rebate check?
I
Ifyou reach the coverage gap this year and enter the
Part D "donuthole" youwill receive a one-time $250
rebate checkifyou are not alreadyreceiving Medicare
Extra Help. These checks willbegin to get mailed to
beneficiaries startingin mid-June.
Checks willbe mailed monthlythroughout the year
as beneficiaries enter the coverage gap. However, this
is a one-timebenefit and ifyou qualify, youwill only
receive one checkafteryou reach the coverage gap.
Will have to paytaxes on this rebate check?
I
No. You don't have to paytaxes on your $250 rebate
check. It is tax free.
What if I don't get the rebate checkwhen I
should?
Ifyouhitthe donuthole aftertheprogramhasbegun,
you should expectto receiveyourcheckwithin45 days.
Your rebate maybe delayedifMedicare doesn'thave
information fromyourMedicare drugplan showingthat
youreachedthe coverage gap intime to includeyouin
the nextmailing. You should callyourMedicare drug
planto make sure all ofyourinformationhasbeen sent
to Medicare.
Ifyou don't getyour rebate check, contact Medicare
at 1-800-MEDICARE. Individuals receivingMedicare
Extra Help will not receive a rebate check.
You can also checkto make sure Social Securityhas
your correcthome address. Call 1-800-772-1213 or
your local Social Security office. TTY users should call
1-800-325-0778.
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE MEDICAID SERVICES
&
TheAffordableCareActpassedbyCongressand Whenwill I getthe rebatecheck?
signedbyPresident Obamathisyearcontains some Ifyoureachthecoveragegapthisyearandenterthe
importantbenefits forMedicarerecipients. PartD "donuthole",youwillreceiveaone-time$250
Ifyouhave Medicareprescription drugcoverage, and rebatecheckifyouarenotalreadyreceivingMedicare
aren'talreadygettingMedicare ExtraHelp,Medicare ExtraHelp. Thesecheckswillbeginto getmailedto
willautomaticallysendyouataxfree, one-time$250 beneficiaries startingin mid-June.
rebate checkafteryoureachthe coveragegap (also Checkswillbemailedmonthlythroughouttheyear
calledthe "donuthole") in2010. This rebate isthe asbeneficiariesenterthecoveragegap. However,this
firststep towardclosingtheMedicareprescription isaone-timebenefitandifyouqualify,youwillonly
drugcoveragegap. receiveonecheckafteryoureachthecoveragegap.
Whatisthecoveragegapand howwill I Will haveto paytaxesonthis rebate check?
I
know ifI've reached it? No. Youdon'thavetopaytaxesonyour$250rebate
MostMedicaredrugplanshaveacoveragegap.This check. Itistaxfree.
meansthatafteryouandyourplanhavespentacertain
amountofmoneyforcovereddrugs,youhavetopay What ifI don'tgetthe rebate checkwhen I
allcostsout-of-pocketforyourdrugs (uptoalimit). should?
Ifyouhitthedonutholeaftertheprogramhasbegun,
TheExplanation ofBenefits notice,whichyour
youshouldexpecttoreceiveyourcheckwithin45days.
drugplanmailstoyoueach monthwhenyoufill a YourrebatemaybedelayedifMedicaredoesn'thave
prescription, willtellyouhowmuchyou've spent informationfromyourMedicaredrugplanshowingthat
on covereddrugs andwhetheryou'veenteredthe
youreachedthecoveragegapintimetoincludeyouin
coverage gap.
thenextmailing.YoushouldcallyourMedicaredrug
Will needtodoanythingtogetthis rebate plantomakesureallofyourinformationhasbeensent
I
check? toMedicare.
No.Therearenoformstofillout. Medicarewill Ifyoudon'tgetyourrebatecheck, contactMedicare
automaticallysendacheckthat'smadeouttoyou. at 1-800-MEDICARE. IndividualsreceivingMedicare
Youdon't needto provideanypersonal information ExtraHelpwillnotreceivearebatecheck.
likeyourMedicare, SocialSecurity,orbankaccount
numberstogettherebatecheck. Don'tgiveyour Youcan also checktomake sure SocialSecurityhas
personalinformationtoanyonewhocallsyou yourcorrecthomeaddress. Call 1-800-772-1213 or
aboutthe$250rebatecheck. Call 1-800-MEDICARE yourlocalSocial Securityoffice. TTYusersshouldcall
(1-800-633-4227) toreportanyonewho doesthis. 1-800-325-0778. • >
TTY users shouldcall 1-877-486-2048.
COS LIBRARY
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What's Next...Coming
Ifyou reach the coverage gap in 2011, youwill get
a 50% discount onyourbrand name prescription
drugs at the time youbuythem, unlessyou are
alreadygetting Medicare Extra Help. Staytuned for
more information from Medicare.
Help us spread the word about this
important benefit
And help stop scams against seniors
Pass this brochure alongto your friends, neighbors
and family so theyknowthe facts aboutthis
—
important program. Remember there are no
forms to fill out to receive this benefit once you
qualifyfor it. Medicare will automaticallysend a
checkthat's made out to you.
Youdon'tneedtoprovideanypersonalinformation
likeyourMedicare, SocialSecurity,orbankaccount
numberstogettherebatecheck. Don'tgiveyour
personalinformationtoanyonewhocallsyou
aboutthe$250rebatecheck. Call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227) toreportanyonewhodoesthis.
TTYusersshouldcall 1-877-486-2048.
Go to stopmedicarefraud.govto learn more about
howMedicare is workingwith law enforcement to
stop scams against seniors.
Have other questions about the $250
rebate checkor the Affordable Care Act
and Medicare?
Please refer to the brochure Medicare and theNew
Health Care Law—What itMeansfor You that
Medicare has sentyou. You can also visit
www.medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
CMSProductNo. 11464
May2010
