Resources

Links to Web sites and organizations with helpful information and resources about Medicare prescription drug coverage:

• Access to Benefits Coalition
• AvoidFraud.org
• Benefits CheckUp Rx
• Eldercare Locator (Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging)
• HealthDecisions.org
• The Health Assistance Partnership
• Medicare.gov (Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
• Medicare Rights Center
• MedicareRx Connect
• Medicare Rx Education Network
• Medicare Today
• My Medicare Matters
• National Mental Health Association's Get Educated, Get Enrolled campaign
• U.S. Social Security Administration

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Tools:

• Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs
• Coverage Determination Request Form - This is a form your doctor can use when sending information to your plan to make sure the plan has all the information it needs to consider your prior authorization request.
• Formulary Finder for Prescription Drug Plans - This online tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services helps users to find plans in their state that match their drug needs.
• Get Educated, Get Enrolled A Workbook for Mental Health Consumers [PDF] - This workbook from the National Mental Health Association helps consumers to work through their medication needs before they start comparing plans. It explains the benefit in broad terms and also creates a space for people to track their interactions with Medicare prescription drug plans. While the workbook is directed toward mental health consumers, it is a useful tool for anyone who has multiple medication needs. 
• Guide to Medicare Part D Prescription Coverage for People with Developmental Disabilities - This Web site is intended to help individuals who receive Medicaid and Medicare benefits, known as dual eligibles, their families and caregivers, and advocates for people with disabilities nationwide understand Medicare prescription drug coverage.
• Medicare Personal Plan Finder - This online tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows you to answer a few short questions and then view and print a personalized chart comparing Medicare health plans where you live.
• Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder - Everyone with Medicare needs to make a decision about prescription drug coverage. Even if you don't use a lot of prescription drugs now, you should still consider joining a plan. The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder will help you to learn about the new Medicare prescription drug coverage, find and compare prescription drug plans that meet your personal needs, and enroll in the prescription drug plan that you select.
• Mental Health Part D - This site, created by a partnership between the American Association of Community Psychiatrists, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the National Mental Health Association, and Treatment Effectiveness Now, is designed to help those with mental illnesses and their families and caregivers understand how the new Medicare prescription drug coverage will affect them, and what they can do to ensure people with Medicare receive the appropriate medications.
• Request for Prescription Information or Change - This is a form your pharmacist can use when sending information to your doctor to make sure he/she has all the information he/she needs to request prior authorization from your plan.
• RxCompare - This step-by-step guide, offered by MedicareRx Connect, provides worksheets to compare cost details and other decision factors about Medicare drug coverage options. It also includes guidance on making a final decision and enrolling. It is designed to be used by Medicare beneficiaries themselves or anyone who is assisting a beneficiary in the process of choosing a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Your Medicine: Play It Safe - This resource from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Council on Patient Information and Education answers common questions about getting and taking medicines and has many handy forms that will help you keep track of information.

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Publications:

• NEW! Using Your Medicare Drug Plan: What to Do if Your Medicine Isn't Covered [PDF] (Spanish Version [PDF]) - A 12-page publication on when to appeal, how to know if medications are covered, understanding appointed representatives, and steps in the appeal process. This brochure includes a sample redetermination request letter for Medicare beneficiaries.
• UPDATED! Navigating the Coverage Gap: How the Gap May Affect You [PDF] (Spanish Version [PDF]) – This 6-page brochure explains who may be affected by coverage gap, how it works, and how to track covered drug expenses. This brochure also includes a sample expense log.

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• Bridging the Coverage Gap - The two-page fact sheet from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services highlights important things to know about the coverage gap, or "donut hole," as it is sometimes called.
• Getting Drugs After Your Transition Period - This one-page tip sheet from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services explains what to do if you have problems getting your medicines after the transition period for Medicare prescription drug coverage beneficiaries ended on March 31st, 2006.
• Help Available To Pay Costs Of Medicare's New Prescription Drug Program [PDF] (also available in Spanish) - This resource from the U.S. Social Security Administration explains the extra help that is available to pay costs of Medicare's new prescription drug program for people with limited income and resources.
• Introducing Medicare's New Coverage for Prescription Drugs [PDF] - This publication from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides basic information to people with Medicare about Medicare prescription drug coverage. This information includes who can join, when people can join, what the costs are, and when more information will be available.
• Medicare & You Handbook [PDF] (Spanish Version [PDF])
• Medicare Consumer Information from the Kaiser Family Foundation
• Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: How to File a Complaint, Coverage Determination, or Appeal - This 6-page publication from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explains what to do if your plan refuses to cover a medicine that you need, how to file an appeal for coverage, and how to file a complaint for a reason not related to coverage.
• Medicare Q&A Weekly Column - The Kaiser Family Foundation produces a weekly Q&A column explaining the basics of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. The columns provide consumer-oriented information with helpful advice for people on Medicare and their families as the drug benefit goes into effect.
• Talking About Medicare Health Coverage [PDF] - Whether you are already covered by Medicare or the family member or friend of someone covered by Medicare, this guide produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation will help answer your questions about Medicare, prescription drug coverage, and long-term care.
• Things to Think About When You Compare Plans [PDF] - This 4-page tip sheet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explains things to think about when comparing Medicare drug plans.
• Understanding Changes in Prescription Drug Coverage for People with Disabilities on Medicare - This report from the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute outlines specific action steps for people with disabilities and highlights key contacts and resources.
• What Prescription Drug Coverage Means to You: A Guide to Getting Started [PDF] - This 8-page guide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explains what you can do right now to make an informed decision about Medicare prescription drug coverage.
• What You Need to Complete The Application For Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs [PDF] (also available in Spanish and other languages) - This resource from the U.S. Social Security Administration includes a worksheet to help you figure out if you will qualify for extra help.
• What You Need to Know About Choosing and Using Your New Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage [PDF] - This tip sheet from the National Pharmaceutical Council offers 5 important things to remember about choosing a Medicare drug plan, and 5 important things to know about using a Medicare drug plan.
• Where To Go When You Have Questions About Your Benefits [PDF] - This fact sheet from the National Pharmaceutical Council offers a list of resources for more information about benefit questions for those with Medicare coverage, as well as for those with employer-sponsored coverage, Medicaid, or those who are currently uninsured.
• Your Medicare Rights and Protections [PDF] - This publication from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists your rights as a Medicare beneficiary.
• Your Pharmacy Benefit: Make It Work For You! [PDF] - This publication from the National Pharmaceutical Council, in cooperation with the Federal Citizen Information Center, walks readers through the important things to consider about pharmacy benefits when choosing a health plan and how to effectively use those benefits to play for the medicines you need to stay healthy.

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