August 17, 2008-Minot Daily News

Senior help available

Harlynn N. Bjerke 

Adam Hamm, Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota, is promoting the Prescription Connection for North Dakota, which might be able to help our senior citizens who are in the Medicare Part D donut hole.

With most plans, the donut hole for 2008 is reached when the prescription costs paid by the Part D insurance plan and the individual combined reaches $2,510 for the year. Then the plans quit paying on all brand name drugs and specialty drugs. Some may continue to pay on generic drugs.

Depending on a person’s taxable income, Prescription Connection for North Dakota may be able to help these individuals to get free or low priced co-pays on brand name drugs through existing patient assistance programs, while providing the highest level of service. To see if you can qualify, you can go to the Internet at rxconnectnd.org or call toll-free at 1-888-575-6611.

There are currently 48 different pharmaceutical companies participating in this program. Each company has their own income and eligibility guidelines. In my experience in helping people qualify, I have found that for single people their taxable income must be less than $16,000 to $21,000, and for married couples less than $26,000 to $40,000.

When patients get the guideline forms, they then take them to their doctors office, to have the office staff forward the required forms to the pharmaceutical company. Health care providers must sign the form and include the specific prescription information or simply attach the actual prescription. Depending on the program, the prescription medicines are either sent to the doctors office, or sent to the patient’s home, or some programs send the patient a pharmacy card that they can use at their local pharmacy.

If you feel you may be able to qualify for this program to help you pay for your prescription drugs, please contact the State Insurance Department.