North Carolina
The purpose of this document is to provide resources for gathering more
information regarding Medicare Part D in your state. This listing supplies
contact information for state and federal agencies working on issues relating
to the Medicare prescription drug benefit. It also includes information
about groups with which MHAs may partner to conduct outreach and education
activities.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
- The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is administered
by CMS within the Department of Health and Human Services. The CMS
Region IV Office
serving North Carolina is located in Atlanta. For inquiries regarding
the CMS Medicare Prescription Drug Education Campaign, contact:
- Medicare beneficiaries can also visit the official government
website, www.medicare.gov, for additional information, including billing,
appeals and enrollment. For general Medicare information, as well as information
about health plans, contact the 24-hour toll-free hotline at
1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227).
Social Security Administration (SSA):
- The Social Security Administration helps individuals determine
whether or not they qualify and how to apply for benefits, including
Extra Help
for the prescription drug benefit. SSA maintains a toll-free number,
1-800-772-1213, twenty-four hours a day.
- North Carolina is located in Region 4, the South Eastern Region.
The office is located in Atlanta. Its website is http://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/index.htm.
-
Further contact information, including addresses, for SSA’s local
North Carolina offices can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/atlanta/southeast/nc/north_carolina.htm.
- Individuals are also able to search for local Social Security Administration
offices through a zip code locator at: http://s00dace.ssa.gov/pro/fol/fol-home.html.
State Medicaid Agency:
- To obtain information regarding Medicaid enrollment, eligibility
and coverage information for those residing in North Carolina, contact
the Department
of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance at:
1-800-662-7030
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/
To find North Carolina’s local Departments of Health and Human
Services where eligibility is determined and applications can be completed
go to:
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/local/index.htm
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs (SPAPs):
- Additional prescription drug benefits may be offered through
a State Pharmacy Assistance Program.
Access, Eligibility and Contact Information:
- North Carolina Senior Care offers a prescription drug assistance
program to residents age 65 or older. Total annual income must be $23,275
or less
for single people and $31,225 or less if married. Beneficiaries cannot
have any other form of prescription drug coverage, including Medicaid.
However,
individuals may still qualify if his/her prescription benefit is
through Medicare + Choice, a Medigap policy or through the Veterans’ Administration.
Co-payments are five percent for enrollees at or below 100% of the
Federal Poverty Level ($9,570 for a single individual and $12,830
for a married
person) and ten percent for those over the FPL. The maximum annual
benefit varies depending upon an individual’s enrollment date.
This program functions year to year, in association with Community
Care Rx. There is currently no information regarding the program’s
status for 2006.
1-866-226-1388
http://www.ncseniorcare.com/aboutProgram.htm
Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC):
- ABC coalitions work to help Medicare beneficiaries locate and
apply for additional assistance in paying for prescription drugs. They
also aid individuals
in enrolling in both public and private prescription savings programs.
www.accesstobenefits.org
- There is one coalition serving North Carolina:
- Leslie Brown, Health Disparities Liaison, Department of Health
and Human Services, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities:
919-850-2715
or Leslie.Brown@ncmail.net
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP):
- SHIPs offer free counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries
and their families. In addition, SHIPs will be planning Medicare
Part D enrollment and education events throughout each state. The National
Network
website is https://www.shiptalk.org. You may find information about
North Carolina ’s
SHIP below or at the national website.
- Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is a division of
the North Carolina Department of Insurance. It has 103 sponsored
counseling sites across the state and can also be reached through its toll-free
number.
1-800-443-9354
www.ncshiip.com
www.nmha.org/medicare
For more information or questions, please email schrinfo@nmha.org or
call 1-800-969-6642
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