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Ashley Hayes ReportingToday is the last day senior citizens can enroll in the government's prescription drug benefits program.
After midnight tonight seniors will have to wait until the fall to enroll and, as of right now, will incur a penalty for missing the deadline.
If seniors miss the midnight deadline their premium costs will go up at least one percent per month for each month they're not signed up. And they will have to pay the penalty for as long as they have coverage.
So here are some numbers seniors might need to call for information so they can meet that deadline.
Salt Lake County Aging Services
(801) 468-2480
Medicare
1-800-MEDICAR
www.medicare.gov
There are nearly 50 different prescription plans for Utah residents. But the Medicare website will sort through the best plans for each senior when they input their information.
Before logging on seniors need to have the following information:
Medicare Part D Enrollment Required Information
- Name
- Social Security Number
- Medicare Number
- List of Prescription Drugs
Depending on income, some recipients may qualify for the extra help financial program, and will be asked to provide annual household income. "It provides a lot of piece of mind that they are economically protected so they wouldn't incur huge costs somewhere down the road. They've got this coverage. They're in the program. And there's a limit on how much in any given year they would ever have to spend out of pocket."
So once again, today is the last day to sign up for the prescription drug plan for seniors already on Medicare.
