Health Services & Wellness Programs

2010 WELLNESS FAIR

Mark your calendars Tuesday, June 8, 2010
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS

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ILLINOIS CIRCUIT BREAKER/ILLINOIS CARES RX
Good News for Seniors Taking Prescription Medications

The State of Illinois has EXPANDED the State's Circuit Breaker Pharmaceutical Assistance Program to help more seniors pay for prescription medications.

Circuit Breaker changes for this year can help you with:

• Pharmaceutical Assistance Program -
  Helps eligible Circuit Breaker claimants pay for physician prescribed medications for treatment of heart and blood pressure disease, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimers Disease, Parkinson's Disease, glaucoma, cancer, lung disease and smoking-related illnesses, and osteoporosis.
• Property Tax / Rent Relief -
  Provides annual rebates to eligible individuals paying property or mobile home taxes or rent. People who live in a house, apartment, nursing or sheltered care home, etc., that was subject to theh property tax for the yar for which benefits are being applied, are generally considered eligible. Mobile home owners may also be entitiled to property tax relief if they paid privilege taxes on the mobile home used as their principal residence. The rebate is based on the amount paid in property tax, rent or nursing home charges and total household income.
• A license plate fee discount -
  Eligible Circuit Breaker claimants are allowed to renew their license plates for $24.00 - a discount of $54.00.

In addition, if you were not eligible for the Circuit Breaker in the past, you MAY BE ELIGIBLE NOW with the NEW INCREASES IN INCOME LIMITS!

IF YOU . . .

• ARE disabled or are age 65 or older
  
  
• HAVE an income of $24,808 a year or less
  ($32,916 for a two person household or $41,023 for a 3 person household or larger)
  
  
• AND NEED prescriptions for the following:
  
  • Heart disease
  • Blood Pressure problems
  • Diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Parkenson's disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Osteoporosis
  • Lung disease or smoking related illnesses

You may still file the Illinois Circuit Breaker application.

Electronic filing online is now available and is a more efficient, faster process. However, restrictions do apply, such as first time filers, changes in number in household, taxable losses and proof of disability documents If you would like assistance with filing or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call the BCCA at 815-544-9893 and ask for Circuit Breaker Assistance. Remember, if your income in was less than:

• $24,808 for a one person household OR
  
  
• $32,916 for a two person household, AND
  
  
• you are 65 years old or disabled,

the Illinois Circuit Breaker/Illinois Cares RX may be of help to you. Call us at the Keen Age Center today and find out if you should file this application for possible grant, prescription coverage, auto license discount and I-Pass discount. We will be happy to schedule an appointment with you.

A reminder from the Illinois Department on Aging: You must file your annual application for Circuit Breaker and Illinois Cares Rx (2006 Form IL-1363) in order to continue your drug coverage. For more information, visit www.cbrx.il.gov on the Web.

HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM WORK?

Seniors can apply for a Pharmaceutical Assistance Card after they receive their W-2's earnings statements or other financial information in January. Their application will be processed, and will receive the card 6 to 8 weeks later.

CO-PAYMENT?

With the Illinois Cares RX Card co-payment for medications covered would be $2.25 per generic drug and $5.60 per brand name. Non-preferred and specialty drugs are $15.00.
AFTER card holders reach a $2,510.00 ANNUAL CAP they will pay $20% of cost.

The Pharmaceutical Assistance card will have a co-payment of $3.00 (three dollars) per medications for covered diseases.
AFTER card holders reach a $2,000.00 ANNUAL CAP, they must pay 20% of cost and co-pays.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call one of our Outreach workers at 815-544-9893.

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HEALTH INSURANCE QUESTIONS
LEAVING YOU IN THE DARK?

SHIP can help guide you through your health insurance problems.
SHIP stands for:
Senior Health Insurance Program
The BCCA provides SHIP which is a free insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company, and its counselors do not sell or solicit insurance. Counselors are trained by the Illinois Department of Insurance to:

1. Answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplement insurance, long term care insurance, Medicare HMO's and other health insurance
2. Organize and assist infiling Medicare and Medicare Supplement claims, as well as appeals to claim denials
3. Analyze Medicare Supplement and long term care insurance policies, and
4. Educate consumers
5. BCCA's SHIP counselors also serve as a clearinghouse for publications such as Medicare Supplement Premium Comparison Guides and booklets on long term care insurance.



• SHIP is a state sponsored counseling service provided at NO CHARGE by the Illinois Department of Insurance.
• SHIP DOES NOT SELL OR SOLICIT INSURANCE.
• SHIP provides a TOLL FREE number (1-800-548-3094) to answer your questions or direct you to a counselor in your area.
• The Boone County Council on Aging has SHIP counselors that can answer your questions and assist you with your health insurance problems.
• BCCA provides personal counseling at the Keen Age Center or to the homebound in some instances.
• SHIP is dedicated to assisting Illinois' Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers.
• BCCA's SHIP counselors are trained by the Department of Insurance to guide you through problems involving:
  
  • Medicare
  • Medicare Supplement Insurance
  • Medicate HMO's
  • Long Term Care Insurance
  • Retiree Health Plans
  • Claims Processing
  • Appealing Claim Denials

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SHIP, PLEASE CALL

1-800-548-9034 or 1-217-524-4872 (TTY)

Or link to www.state.il.us/ins/Ship/shipfacts.htm