[NOV. 25, 2005]
SPRINGFIELD -- While most federal, state, county
and city offices are closed today (Friday) to observe the
Thanksgiving holiday, Illinois Department on Aging Director Charles
D. Johnson announced that the department's
Senior HelpLine will be open for business.
"With families getting
together for the holiday, we expect the HelpLine to get a lot of
calls from concerned family members who want to help their loved
ones choose the best Medicare prescription drug program," Johnson
said.
The Senior HelpLine provides callers with information on
programs and services, and it links people 60 years of age and older
and their caregivers to local services. Professional staff members
briefly assess needs, send literature and write referrals for a
range of services, such as case management, the Long-Term Care
Ombudsman Program, legal services, transportation, employment and
nutrition services. Staff members also take elder abuse complaints
and accept appeals and service queries from the clients of the
Community Care Program.
"The HelpLine staff is dedicated to helping seniors not only
understand Illinois Cares Rx and Medicare Part D, but to also help
with any other concerns they may have," said Shirley Medley, Senior
HelpLine supervisor. "That's why we've volunteered to work on a
state holiday. Last week alone we received more than 1,000 calls on
the two programs."
In June, Gov. Blagojevich signed the "No Senior or Person with
Disability Left Behind" law, which created the Illinois Cares Rx
program, the nation's most comprehensive response to fill in the
gaps created by the federal prescription drug program. The Illinois
Cares Rx program will take effect Jan. 1, in conjunction with the
start of the new Medicare prescription coverage. The governor's goal
is to provide a safety net for seniors and people with disabilities
when their out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs go up under
the federal program.
The federal Medicare Modernization Act helps seniors by paying 75
percent of prescription drug costs up to $2,250 after a $250
deductible, with an average premium of $35 per month. Beneficiaries
are responsible for all of their costs between $2,250 and $5,100,
with the plan paying 95 percent of costs beyond the top threshold.
The gap where a beneficiary has to pay all the drug costs between
$2,250 and $5,100 is commonly referred to as the "doughnut hole."
The new "wraparound coverage" provided to Illinois seniors and
people with disabilities through Illinois Cares Rx will help cover
the increased costs of the Medicare program, including premium
costs, coinsurance, coverage for the "doughnut" and the deductible.
The Senior HelpLine, at 1 (800) 252-8966, is open Friday from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
