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The New Federal Drug Benefit: Medicare Part D
A Message from the Attorney General
Many Maryland seniors and persons with disabilities
are eligible to receive a new prescription drug benefit under
Medicare Part D. Most of you will not get this benefit automatically,
and many of you who already have prescription drug coverage will
choose to stay with your current plan. To participate in Medicare
Part D, though, you must sign up for one of the plans which
will be offered in Maryland.
Companies
offering benefits under this program will be
marketing their plans. You will get phone calls and mailings
from sales people trying to convince you that their company’s
plan is the best one for you.
PLEASE
BE CAREFUL. Medicare Part D is a complex program. In order
to make the most of it, you need to be an informed consumer. You
must:
1) know that you have choices;
2) learn about the differences in the various plans;
3) sign up only after you are sure your choice is the best one for
you.
On this section of my website, I am providing general information
to help you understand the basics of this process and to point
you in the right direction to get additional help you will need.
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DO'S AND DON'TS |
| DO shop
around and compare the plans to choose from
in Maryland. Plans will cover different drugs, use different
pharmacies, and have different premiums, deductibles, and
co-payments. |
DON’T necessarily enroll in the first or second plan that comes
along.
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| DO provide your Medicare number and other information needed
when you are ready to enroll, but ONLY when YOU initiate
the enrollment process by telephone, Internet, or mail. |
DON’T give out your Social Security, Medicare, credit cards or
bank account numbers to someone who calls or contacts you. |
| DO make the plan send you a bill after you enroll. |
DON’T
provide payment in any form over the phone or Internet. |
| DO use the resources listed above on the left and elsewhere
on this website to get your questions answered. |
DON’T stay
confused without getting help. |
| DO be sure that the company you choose is legitimate before
you enroll or give out any sensitive personal information
by checking its name, address, telephone number or website
at: www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. |
DON’T let yourself be scammed. |
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