|
|
|
|
|
Cover the Uninsured Week Draws Attention
HMHP Plans Activities to Help the Uninsured
The problem of the uninsured is continuing to grow. The federal government estimates that 47 million individuals lacked health insurance coverage of any kind during 2006.
Nearly 20 percent of uninsured Americans - 8.7 million individuals - are children. Health insurance is particularly important for children. Uninsured children are more likely than insured children to lack a source of health care, to go without needed care and to experience worse health outcomes.
In an effort to draw attention to this national crisis, April 27 through May 3 has been designated Cover the Uninsured Week, a nonpartisan campaign to focus attention on the need to secure health coverage for all Americans.
Helping Kids Get Covered
Locally, Humility of Mary Health Partners' St. Joe's at the Mall will distribute Cover the Uninsured Week materials, as well as a flier detailing the application process for enrolling children in SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program). A representative from the Mahoning Valley Covering Kids Coalition will be at St. Joe's at the Mall on the following dates to assist parents in enrolling their children in SCHIP:
· May 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
· May 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
· May 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
· May 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.
St. Joe's at the Mall is located in the Eastwood Mall, Niles, next to Sears.
Men's Health Tune-up
St. Elizabeth Health Center will sponsor a health screening program for uninsured men ages 40 to 64 from 8 to 11 a.m. June 7 at the St. Elizabeth Family Health Center, 1053 Belmont Ave., Youngstown, across from St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Entitled Men's Health Tune-up, the free program will include screenings for cholesterol (12-hour fast required), blood pressure and body fat. Men ages 50 to 64 can participate in a prostate cancer screening.
Participants will also have the opportunity to talk to a physician, pharmacist, and diabetes educator, as well as obtain information on healthy eating, advance directives and smoking cessation.
This program is for men who have no Medicare, Medicaid or insurance coverage. Registration is required by May 30 by calling the Humility of Mary Healthline at 330-480-3151 or toll-free 1-877-700-4647. Parking is free and light refreshments will be served.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help your mom save $3,600
By Jim Mattes, Social Security Public Affairs
People all over the country are helping their moms save as much as $3,600 per year on the cost of prescription drugs. You can too!
We all know the high cost of medicine can be a burden on mothers who have limited income and resources. But there is extra help -- available through Social Security -- that could pay part of her monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. The extra help could be worth up of $3,600 per year.
To figure out whether your mother is eligible, Social Security needs to know her income and the value of her savings, investments and real estate (other than the home she lives in). To qualify for the extra help, she must be receiving Medicare and also have:
· Income limited to $15,600 for an individual or $21,000 for a married couple living together. Even if her annual income is higher, she still may be able to get some help with monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. Some examples where income may be higher include if she or her spouse:
--Support other family members who live with them;
--Have earnings from work; or
--Live in Alaska or Hawaii; and
· Resources limited to $11,990 for an individual or $23,970 for a married couple living together. Resources include such things as bank accounts, stocks and bonds. We do not count her house and car as resources.
Social Security has an easy-to-use online application that you can help complete for your mom. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov. To apply by phone or have an application mailed to you, 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 go to 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).
So this Mother's Day, help your mom save up to $3,600 a year on her prescription drugs. Long after the candy and flowers are gone, the extra help through Social Security will keep on giving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Free" prescription drug cards to Ohio residents
The Ohio Drug Card Program announced today that it will distribute "FREE" discount prescription drug cards to the residents of Ohio. Every Ohioan is eligible to participate in the Ohio Drug Card Program. There are no restrictions to membership, no income restrictions, no age limit and no applications to fill out. Prescription savings average 30 percent and can range up to 75 percent at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies. Participating pharmacies include Kmart Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy, Meijer, Discount Drug Mart, Marc's Pharmacy, as well as thousands of independent pharmacies.
As a resident of Ohio, you can download your free prescription drug card by visiting www.OhioDrugCard.com. Anyone not able to access the website, or otherwise obtain a member card, can visit any Kmart Pharmacy location in Ohio. Kmart Pharmacy will process your prescription through the Ohio Drug Card program even if you do not have a member card.
The Ohio Drug Card Program was launched to help the uninsured and underinsured citizens of Ohio afford their prescription medications. However, the program can also be used by people who have health insurance coverage with no prescription benefits, which is common in many health savings accounts and high deductible health plans. Additionally, people who have prescription coverage can use this program for non-formulary or non-covered drugs.
The Ohio Drug Card can also be used by individuals who do not qualify for publicly funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. It can also be used by people who receive their medicines through charity care providers such as 340B, a federally funded program that grants discounts to providers, and require a drug that is not available to them. This program even covers some pet medications that are available at participating pharmacies. The Ohio Drug Card Program has no restrictions or participation requirements and is open to every resident of Ohio.
Greg Lashutka, the former mayor of Columbus, has been selected as the Program Director for the Ohio Drug Card. Lashutka played football for Ohio State under head coach Woody Hayes from 1963-1965. In 1965 Lashutka served as his team's co-captain. He was elected mayor of Columbus in 1991 and served as mayor from 1992 through 1999 being elected twice. Lashutka served as president of the National League of Cities during his time as Mayor. He joined Nationwide Insurance in January 2000 as Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations, retiring at the end of last year. Lashutka is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. "This program can help every resident of Ohio! We are calling on hospitals, clinics, associations and organizations to create public awareness for the program and to make this program available to our citizens," said Lashutka. "This program is just what the people of Ohio needed to help them manage rising insurance and medical expenses."
You can search for drug pricing and participating pharmacies at www.ohiodrugcard.com. The card is pre-activated and can be used at any participating pharmacy. Most major pharmacies, as well as thousands of independent pharmacies, accept the card.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
