Get Educated, Get Enrolled:
NMHA’s Medicare Rx Benefit Campaign

Welcome

The National Mental Health Association (NMHA) is pleased to present this workbook to help you as a mental health consumer "get educated" about and "get enrolled" in the new Medicare prescription drug program.

Table of Contents

Welcome........page 1
Know the Basics........page 3
Tips for Consumers........page 6
How Do I Enroll?........page 8

1. Determine Your Eligibility
2. Know the Process
3. Apply for Extra Help
4. Tips for Comparing and Choosing a Plan

Getting Your Medications........page 16
Know Your Rights: Exceptions and Appeals........page 18
Glossary........page 23
Resources........page 27
Worksheets page 29

1. Counting Your Income and Savings to Apply for Extra Help
2. Medication List
3. Keeping Track of Out-of-Pocket Costs
4. Important Names and Phone Numbers
5. Notes

   Download the complete workbook* 785 kb PDF Note-may take up to 3 minutes to download using 56k modem *required Adobe Reader

For the first time, this program will help people with Medicare get medications. It will also change how people with Medicare and Medicaid (called "dual eligibles") receive their medications. After January 1, 2006, the Medicare program — not Medicaid — will pay for medications for people who are dual eligibles.

This workbook will help you to understand:

1. Who can receive the new prescription drug benefit;
2. How to enroll in a prescription drug plan;
3. How to apply for a program called Extra Help;
4. How to get medications; and
5. How to ask for exceptions and appeals.

To help you through the enrollment process, we have also included reminders about important dates and deadlines, a list of questions for use with doctors, case managers and pharmacists, worksheets and a glossary of terms. We encourage you to take advantage of this workbook and the resources. NMHA and its 340 affiliates are ready to help you get the most out of this new program.

www.nmha.org/medicare
For more information or questions, please email schrinfo@nmha.org or call 1-800-969-6642

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National Mental Health Association
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959