How do nursing home residents choose and enroll in a drug plan and apply for “extra help” (low-income subsidy)?
Nursing home residents must go through the same application and selection process as any other Part D applicant, though they are subject to special enrollment periods (see question # 16). They may also face additional difficulty in selecting a plan that contracts with pharmacies the nursing home is accustomed to working with. Because of this, nursing home residents with cognitive and/or physical impairments will find the plan selection process even more difficult and complicated than non-nursing home residents. For this reason, it is important that family members or legal guardians help nursing home residents enroll in a plan; nursing homes cannot and will not make the decision for residents unless an agent of the nursing home, such as a nurse or case manager, is appointed as a representative for the resident.
Related Questions
- What guidance is available to help a Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) Plan Sponsor determine whether a given drug is a Part D drug?
- How do nursing home residents choose and enroll in a drug plan and apply for "extra help" (low-income subsidy)?
- How can beneficiaries find out if they qualify for the Medicare drug benefit low-income subsidy?
