January 20, 2003
Annuity Board offers help for senior adults' medicines
___DALLAS--With rising health-care costs and major increases in the cost of prescription drugs this year, the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has issued a reminder to senior adults that they may qualify for special assistance.
___"While the Annuity Board offers two Medicare supplement plans that include prescription drug benefits, we realize the costs of any medical plan can be prohibitive to many seniors on fixed incomes," said Doug Day, executive officer of the Annuity Board's benefit services unit. "We are very concerned about those senior adults who can't afford the prescription drugs they need.
___"As an advocate for those seniors, we are spreading the word that help is out there for those who need it."
___Drug companies including Merck, Pfizer and Eli Lilly have implemented patient-assistance programs to make their drugs affordable for seniors and disabled people on Medicare. These programs are designed to help those who can't afford their medicines obtain them free of charge or at a significant discount.
___To qualify for most programs, seniors or the disabled must be enrolled in Medicare, have no prescription drug coverage and meet annual income restrictions, typically $18,000 for singles or $24,000 for a couple. Some programs allow a higher annual income.
___Through its patient assistance program, Merck has provided people with access to needed medicines for nearly 50 years. In 2001, the program provided 2.5 million prescriptions free of charge to 350,000 patients. Pfizer and Eli Lilly make any of their drugs available to eligible seniors for $15 and $12, respectively, for a one-month prescription.
___Since most of the programs are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, a patient must first identify the manufacturer of his or her medication, then contact the company for an application. If a person takes multiple drugs manufactured by different companies, it may be necessary to enroll in more than one program.
___The Annuity Board recommends several websites to assist a senior adult seeking patient assistance programs. Medicare's consumer information website, www. medicare.gov, offers information on these programs and a comparison of several. The National Council on Aging also offers a website, www.benefitscheckup.org, that helps seniors identify programs that may pay for some of the costs of their prescription drugs and may also help pay for health care, utilities and other essential service items.
___At www.phrma.org, seniors may look up a specific drug by name or select a pharmaceutical company to find a list of the drugs available through the company's program. For a $5 processing fee per drug application, The Medicine Program will assist a person in enrolling in the appropriate programs. For information and an application, call (573) 996-7300 or visit their website at www.themedicineprogram.com.
___In addition to the programs sponsored by individual pharmaceutical companies, disabled or senior veterans may be eligible for a discount prescription drug program through the Veterans Administration. Call (877) 222-8387 for information.
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
|