Medicare Savings in Durham for 2023

Visit our Website

Donate

Now is the time to review your Medicare Plan

Open Enrollment October 15 - December 7

Did you know there are currently 85 Medicare-approved health and/or drug plans available in Durham?

Many Medicare beneficiaries are overwhelmed at the prospect of sorting through so many options for medical and prescription coverage. Also, health and drug benefits can and do change annually.

We are here to help.

Senior PharmAssist is the N.C. Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) coordinating site for Durham. Our trained staff and volunteers provide reliable Medicare counseling about Medicare Part A (hospitalization), Part B (outpatient care and provider services), Part C (Medicare Advantage plans or replacement plans), Part D (drug benefit), as well as Medicare supplements (Medigap plans). We can also review other retiree health plan options from local employers.

This counseling is offered at no charge to all Medicare beneficiaries in Durham, regardless of age or income.

Make an appointment with one of our trained counselors and receive free, unbiased, digestible information to help you compare Medicare health and drug plans and find the one that is right for you without sales pressure!

Appointments are required. Call 919-688-4772 to see how we can help.

Transportation and interpretation can be arranged as well as video or telephone conferences, if necessary.

Remember – it pays to compare; those individuals we helped switch drug plans alone last year were projected to save an average of $673 on their medicines in 2022.

“Y’all have been so helpful over the years. I really do appreciate your help.”

Saving Money with the Inflation Reduction Act

Do you or someone you know take less medication than prescribed because of the cost?

Too many older adults have had to ration their medication or not take them at all. This puts them at greater risk for poor health. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022, is an important first step to address the burden of medication costs for older adults. We shared details in our last enews – highlighting Vice President Harris’s visit to our office to explain the law’s details. They are worth repeating as we are finding that many people still don’t know this is the law of the land, which is a major change in Medicare drug benefits.

The law includes several provisions to lower prescription drug costs for people with Medicare and reduce drug spending by the federal government. Effective January 1, all adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP, which is part of the CDC) will be available at no charge under Part D – the outpatient prescription drug benefit. This will include both vaccines to help prevent shingles and Tdap, which helps prevent several different types of infections.

In addition:

The law limits the price of insulin to no more than $35 per month per covered insulin.
Medication drug price increases will be capped at inflation rates.
There will be some price negotiations directly between Medicare and the drug manufacturers beginning in 2026.
There will be annual caps or “maximum out-of-pockets” amounts beyond which Medicare beneficiaries do not pay beginning in 2024 and it goes to $2,000 in 2025.
Beginning in 2024, individuals with income up to 150% of the federal poverty level — who qualify for some financial assistance now with their Part D drug benefit — will receive even better discounts known as “full” Extra Help.

Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is beginning to implement these new policies. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as this process continues.

“You guys are great. You are liquid gold.”

Welcome New Staff and SHIIP/Medicare Volunteers!

We’re excited to welcome our newest staff member – Carolyn Reynolds and new and returning SHIIP/Medicare volunteers!

Carolyn is our new Development and Communications Director and she brings more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and management.

Prior to joining our team, she worked for WXXI Public Broadcasting in Rochester, NY for 14 years. Her experience gives her a deep appreciation how nonprofits can strengthen a community through education and information. She enjoys developing relationships with donors and other community partners to transform shared beliefs and hopes into action.

We also welcome our newest SHIIP volunteer, Dr. Lisa Nadler. Lisa was on the Advisory Council before the agency was even an independent nonprofit organization — and she is on round two of board membership. She has chaired our Formulary Committee, which is a group of local providers and pharmacists who recommend the medicines we should help pay for based on effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness for older adults. She is a long-time family doctor who also worked at Duke to improve their electronic health record. These skills come in handy when navigating the Medicare “plan finder” website.

In addition to Lisa, we have two other new SHIIP volunteers in training. We also welcome back Shelley Beason after a short hiatus. She is back in SHIIP-Shape form to help Durham residents who are flummoxed by their Medicare choices.

Our current Medicare counselors include:

Peter Adland
Shelley Beason
BJ Boyarski
Collette Driscoll
Bruce Hays
Henry Luftman
Roslyn Muse
Lisa Nadler
Marilyn Bailey – admin support for our SHIIP program

Senior PharmAssist is strong because of the amazing individuals – paid and unpaid – who step up to make life better for others in our community!

“Yours is a great program. We are happy to support it.”

Volunteers Needed

Volunteer with us! Opportunities include: attending outreach events, help with stuffing envelopes for mailings, and delivering brochures and other materials to providers offices, pharmacies and other organizations. E-mail info@seniorpharmassist or call 919-688-4772, if you're able to help!

“Every time I come here, I save money.”