We've Got Your Older Valentine's Covered

(February, 2009)

You’ve bought flowers for your sweetheart, a box of chocolates for your mom, a red tie for dad. It isn’t until you find out that Grandma and Grandpa are coming over for dinner that you realize it: you’ve forgotten to get them something for Valentines Day.

Don’t worry. Social Security has just the thing for the older Valentines on your list. Tell them about the Medicare prescription drug plan—and about the extra help they may be able to get through Social Security.

These days, when every dollar counts, it may not be easy for people like your grandparents to buy prescription drugs on limited income. But you can help make it easier by showing them how to get extra help with their Medicare prescription drug costs.

This extra help can pay part of their monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. And the extra help is worth mor than a box of candy or bouquet of flowers. It’s worth an average of $3,900 each per year.

Social Security will need to know a few things to see if they qualify, and you can help them submit the information online. We need to know their income and the value of their savings, investments and real estate (other than the home they live in). To qualify for the extra help, they have to be receiving Medicare and must have:

• Income limited to $16,245 for an individual or $21,855 for a married couple living together. Even if their annual income is higher, your grandparents might be able to get help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. For example, their income may be higher if they:
• Support other family members who live with them;
• Have earnings from work; or
• Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and
• Resources limited to $12,510 for an individual or $25,010 for a married couple living together. Resources are things they own, such as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. Note that we do not count their house or car as resources.

You can help them complete our quick and easy online application for the extra help online at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or get an application, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or visit the nearest Social Security office.

To learn more about the Medicare prescription drug plans and special enrollment periods, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

This Valentine’s Day can be picture-perfect. Your sweetheart will enjoy the flowers, mom will share her candy, dad will sport his new tie with the hearts on it—and your grandparents will save $3,900 each on their prescription drugs with the extra help available through Social Security. That’s a valuable Valentine.

Ginny Jordan is a Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration. Her weekly column on all things Social Security appears in the Sunday Edition of the Sun-Sentinel.

Ginny has agreed to let us reprint her articles here for your convenience.

Thank you Ginny!