$250 Rebate Checks

Back in May, I blogged about the $250 rebate check that Part D Medicare beneficiaries will get when they hit the “donut hole” (the Part D “coverage gap”) with their prescription drug expenses this year, 2010. This is the first step in plugging the donut hole, which will eventually be fully accomplished in 2020 by the Health Care Reform legislation.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid has just released some information on how this rebate program is going. As of the end of July, almost 400,000 of these checks have gone out, and they project about 670,000 more will go out in August. Up ‘til now they have released checks on a monthly basis, but this will be stepped up to a twice-a-month basis this month, August, and be kept at this level until the end of the year. And don’t worry, if you don’t hit the donut hole until late this year, or you check was delayed for some reason, they will still be mailing the checks out next year for those who hit the donut hole in 2010.

The Centers has further indicated that if you expected this check but haven’t received it, you should call your Part D Drug Plan (or your Medicare Advantage Plan, if you get your Part D prescriptions through it) as most issues can be resolved at this level. For example, you may have thought you reached the donut hole, but have not actually done so as of yet. It further advises that if you are in fact due the check, and your Plan has told you that they have transmitted this information to Medicare, and your correct mailing address is on file with the Social Security Administration, that you should wait four months after you actually hit the donut hole to contact 1-800-MEDICARE to resolve the problem. However, Medicare indicates that the program seems to be working pretty smoothly; you just may need to be a bit patient.

And, as was inevitable, scamsters and con artists have gotten into the act, and have been calling Medicare beneficiaries promising to get them their rebate check if they give them their bank account, Social Security, Medicare and other personal information. Do not do this under any circumstances; if someone calls you telling you they can get you your rebate check, slam your phone down and report this immediately to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Again, I would appreciate hearing from anyone about their experiences getting their rebate. I will soon blog about the next step in plugging the donut hole, which will take place in 2011.