Vital
Marci’s Medicare Answers
December 2006
Dear Marci,
My father has cancer and his doctor said he will not live much longer. Can Medicare help?
-Maria
Dear Maria,
Your father may qualify for hospice or “end- of-life” care, which helps to relieve the symptoms and pain related to a terminal illness but not to cure it. To qualify your father must have Medicare Part A and a terminal illness, and his doctor must certify that he will live less than six months. Your father must also agree in writing that he does not want treatment to cure his terminal illness, though he can receive treatment to cure any other conditions. If he qualifies, Medicare will cover hospice care that is provided through a Medicare-certified hospice agency as long as the agency’s director or physician agrees that your father will live less than six months. The hospice benefit includes a range of services such as skilled nursing, skilled therapy, and durable medical equipment. If your father lives longer than six months, and still meets the requirements for hospice care, he can continue to receive hospice benefits. Call 800-MEDICARE to find Medicare-certified hospice agencies in your area, what services are covered and how much you have to pay for them.
Dear Marci,
I was just diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed insulin that I inject with a needle. My Medicare drug plan covers insulin, but how do I get the needle?
-Molly
Dear Molly,
In addition to insulin, your Medicare drug plan must cover the supplies you need to inject it yourself. These include needles, syringes, alcohol swabs and gauze. Some plans may also cover other diabetes medications that are used at home. Always check with your plan to make sure it covers the medications you need.
Dear Marci,
I did not sign up for a Medicare private drug plan (Part D) last year because I like the drug coverage that I already have. Is there any reason for me to join a Medicare drug plan for next year?
Roy
Dear Roy,
You should find out from whoever provides your current drug coverage (for example, your employer) whether it is considered “creditable,” or, as good as or better than the Medicare drug benefit. If it is not creditable, and you decide to sign up for a Medicare drug plan in the future, for as long as you have the Medicare drug benefit you will have to pay a premium penalty based on the amount of time you delay enrolling in a Medicare drug plan. If your current drug coverage is creditable you will not have to pay a penalty as long as you are not without “creditable” drug coverage for more than 63 days before signing up for a Medicare private drug plan. You can call the insurer you get your drug coverage through to find out whether or not it is creditable.
Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114 ext 1. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” MRC’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org.
Medicare Rights Center
www.medicarerights.org
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