Take Action Now: Form Letters From Social Security Administration Alerting Medicare Beneficiaries to Savings Programs Are Not a Scam
Medicare beneficiaries across the country will soon find letters in their mailboxes from the
"The letters are only sent to Medicare beneficiaries who are likely to qualify for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and Medicare Part D Extra Help," said
Roughly 8.5 million people are enrolled in MSP and about 12 million use Extra Help to afford their Medicare premiums, co-payments, deductibles, and prescriptions. An estimated five million more Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the programs, but never apply. Every community has an organization that provides assistance enrolling in benefit programs and can explain how to use the benefits.
"Each day, thousands of baby boomers turn 65--and many are retiring with increasing amounts of debt and less savings," Fried said. "Spiraling health care costs can significantly cut into our economic security as we age, but these programs can reduce that burden. If you or someone you know gets an SSA letter, it pays to find out more."
There are two places where beneficiaries can get in-person help to see if they're eligible:
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"The
Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for MSP and Extra Help also may be eligible for other benefits to supplement their monthly budget. NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp.org is a free, confidential online screening tool that older adults can use to find federal, state, and local benefit programs that help pay for health care, prescriptions, housing, utilities, food, and more.
To assist state and local benefits counselors, NCOA also has updated its visualization tool that uses SSA data to illustrate the number of letters sent to each zip code nationwide. This information can help state and local agencies more effectively target outreach to those who may be missing out on MSP and Extra Help in their communities.
AP Top Technology News at 6:16 a.m. EDT
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