APPRISE is the State Health
Insurance (Counseling) Program or SHIP, for people with Medicare. Click on Frequently asked questions for more information about APPRISE.
This program was created by
the Department of Aging to help older Pennsylvanians understand their health
insurance options and make sound decisions about what is best for them.
Counselors are trained to
answer your questions about Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap or Supplemental
Insurance, Managed Care Plans, Long Term Care Insurance, and preventative care.
They can give you helpful information about the Medicare Modernization Act,
which will be effective January 2006 and tell you how this will affect your
health care planning.
You can get information
about your eligibility for prescription drug programs such as PACE/PACENET,
Patient Assistant Programs, Insurance Plans, and Medicare Part D.
If you are just retiring, we
can give you some pointers to guide you along the way and perhaps save you
money.
Call for an appointment, we
can help. (570) 524-2100 or (570) 374-5558
PACE PROGRAMS (PACE AND PACENET)
Information from Lancaster County Office of Aging
·
Designed to assist with
costs of medication.
·
Eligibility Guidelines
o
65 years of age or
over.
o
PA resident for the
past 90 consecutive days.
o
Income for previous
year:
§
PACE: must be $14,500
or less for a single individual and $17,700 or less for a married couple.
§
PACENET: must be
between $14,500 and $23,500 for a single individual and between $17,700 and
$31,500 for a married couple.
§
Income for both PACE
and PACENET includes gross Social Security and all other sources of income
except 1) Black or White Lung benefits, 2) the first $5,000 in death benefit
payments from a life insurance policy, 3) noncash relief including food stamps,
and 4) rent or property tax rebates or other PA Lottery funded benefits
§
if a person is a widow
or widower and applying for PACE OR PACENET, the deceased spouse's income must
NOT be counted regardless if he/she lived part or all of previous year.
§
If eligible for PACE,
the cost per prescription is $6 (generic) and $9 (brand name).
§ if eligible for PACENET, a deductible of $40 per month must first be met (this is cumulative if not met each month); after this deductible is met, the cost per prescription is $8 (generic) and $15 (brand name).
For assistance,
call PACE/PACENET Cardholder Services
Toll free at 1-800-225-7223
RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
If
you are currently enrolled in either PACE or PACENET, your renewal application
will be sent to you by mail prior to the month you must renew your
benefits. Just complete and return it with proof of income.
If you lose your renewal application, you may
download and print one by clicking here:
Frequently Asked Questions about PACE/PACENET
Other Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs Chart