People with limited incomes may qualify for Extra Help to pay for their prescription drug costs. If eligible, Medicare could pay for seventy five (75) percent of drug costs including monthly prescription drug premiums, annual deductibles, and co-insurance. Additionally, those who qualify will not be subject to the coverage gap or a late enrollment penalty. Many people are eligible for these savings and don’t even know it. For more information about this Extra Help, contact one of the numbers listed below.

If you qualify for extra help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs, your premium and costs at the pharmacy may be lower. When you join an HNE Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage (plan options with Rx Enhanced or Rx), Medicare will tell us how much extra help you are getting. Then, we will let you know the amount you will pay.

If you are not getting this extra help, you can see if you qualify by calling one of the numbers (or clicking on one of the links) listed below:

• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY/TDD users should call

1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

(Click here for www.medicare.gov.)

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call, 1-800-325-0778. (Click here for a direct link to the SSA Web page - "Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.")

• Your State Medicaid Office:

• MassHealth - www.mass.gov/masshealth

To obtain information regarding Medicaid enrollment, eligibility and coverage information for those residing in Massachusetts, contact: 1-888-665-9993. TTY/TDD users should call, 1-888-665-9997. For customer service, call: 1-888-665-9993 (TTY: 1-800-497-4648).

There are two programs that members needing assistance with Prescription Drug Costs can access. The HNE Medicare Advantage Plan works with both of these programs to make it as easy as possible for our members to receive assistance.

• Low Income Subsidy (LIS) Program - A Federal program run through the Social Security department, also known as "Extra Help" (as explained above), to provide premium and co-payment assistance for those who meet certain income and asset guidelines. Click here to download our LIS Premium Subsidy Table. (This document lists plan premiums for those receiving extra help through the LIS subsidy. If you qualify, your premium will generally be lower once you receive extra help.)

If you believe that you qualify for extra help and you may be paying the wrong copayment amount for prescription drugs, please contact Member Services. We will work with you to update your LIS status based on the best available evidence. For example, you might provide us with evidence of Medicaid status, which may show that you qualify you for extra help. Once you provide us with acceptable evidence, we will update our system and notify CMS. When you go to the pharmacy, the copayment you pay will be based on the latest information we receive. For more information on acceptable forms of evidence, contact Member Services or click here to access the CMS Best Available Evidence Policy.

• Prescription Advantage - A state prescription assistance program available to all Massachusetts residents age 65 and older, as well as younger individuals with disabilities who meet income and employment guidelines. Call 1-800-243-4636 or TTY/TDD 1-877-610-0241. (Click here to access the Massachusetts Prescription Advantage Web site.)

Contact Member Services at one of the numbers listed on the Contact Us page for questions about either of these programs.