MedicareSolutions.com carries New York Medicare plans for those who reside in all areas of New York, including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, Syracuse, Albany, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Schenectady, Utica, Poughkeepsie, Binghamton, Kingston, Glens Falls, and Ithaca. This means that MedicareSolutions.com has plans for residents in the counties of: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates.

Some of the carriers we represent in the state of New York are AARP/United Healthcare, Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Coventry, Empire BCBS, Health Net, and Humana.

In 2008, New York State had 55 Preferred Drug Plan choice; 4 of these plans will had premiums of less than $20, the lowest being $16.70.

However, in 2009, some New York Medicare beneficiaries will see significant changes in their plans from 2008. These changes could be increased premiums or an alteration in coverage. For this reason, it is extremely important if you already have a Medicare insurance plan to review how this plan is changing and what other options are available that may better suit your needs. You do not need to do this alone; at MedicareSolutions.com, our Medicare specialists are more than happy to assist you in this decision.

There are also additionally programs designed to help New York residents with the costs of prescription drugs. One of these is EPIC. EPIC is a New York State program that helps seniors pay for their prescription drugs. More than a quarter million EPIC enrollees are averaging savings of 90 percent of the cost of their medications. EPIC helps members pay for Medicare Part D premiums, as well as helping lower the cost of deductibles and co-payments.

In order to qualify for EPIC, you must be a New York resident 65 or older with an annual income under $35,000 if you are single and under $50,000 if you are married. You are also required to join Medicare Part D, although there are limited exceptions to this. Medicare provides primary drug coverage and the coverage provided by EPIC is secondary. Using these two Medicare insurance plans together can result in great savings.

When EPIC enrollees are purchasing prescription drugs, they show both insurance cards, EPIC and their private insurer’s card for Medicare Part D. Any drug costs that are not covered by the other prescription coverage, including deductibles, co-payments, and coverage gap, can be submitted to EPIC. The result of the two combined is the lowest possible co-payment.

State Assistance Programs
The New York State Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC)
EPIC is a New York State program that helps seniors pay for their prescription drugs. Most enrollees with Medicare Part D coverage use EPIC to lower their drug costs as well as to help pay deductibles and co-payments. Almost all prescription drugs are covered, as well as insulin and insulin syringes.

Eligibility requirements to be met include:

• You must be a New York Resident
• You must be 65 or older
• You must not have full Medicaid benefits
• You must also join a Medicare Part D plan
• Your annual adjusted gross income must be less than $35,000 for individuals and less than $50,000 for married people

For more information call (800)332-3742 or visit the New York State Department of Health website.