SeniorCare curbs the rising costs of prescription drugs New program helps non-indigent seniors buy medicine By Jessica La Plante News-Chronicle For countless seniors with limited incomes and looming medical costs, perhaps the worst side effect of taking prescription medication is the financial strain. Every day, Lou DeGrand of the Brown County Commission on Aging hears true stories of seniors who scrimp on food, clothing and electricity just to pay their pharmacy bills. Some people's drug tabs run as high as $400 per month, DeGrand said. To compensate, "some people would take their drugs every other day or cut them in half and try to make them stretch ... it's a very stressful situation," DeGrand said. Although some indigent seniors might qualify for drug coverage through programs operated by federal agencies and private drug companies, patients of moderate means have a much harder time finding relief from high prices. Both types of national programs for indigent people require seniors to meet federal poverty guidelines and be virtually destitute, DeGrand said. In the fall, the state Department of Health and Family Services came to the rescue by launching SeniorCare, a drug assistance program offering a miracle cure to many people's financial woes. "The SeniorCare program is a saving grace for people who either had money in the bank or whose income was above the other two sources of assistance and yet they were spending hundreds of dollars per month on prescriptions," DeGrand said. The program provides drug coverage to seniors with a wide range of assets and low to moderate income levels. Unlike its federal counterpart, SeniorCare overlooks personal assets in its eligibility formula, allowing applicants to exclude houses, cars and bank accounts from being eyed up as prospective funds. Only sources of annual income and interest are factored into the equation. Launched in September, the SeniorCare program features three classes of eligibility. In the lowest level, a single person is allowed an annual income of $14,368, with the cut-off point climbing to $19,392 for a couple. That's a drastic improvement over Medicaid, which only extends coverage to single people who earned about $650 per month and possesses less than $2,000 in assets, DeGrand said. For couples, the cut-off point begins at about $1,000 per month with less than $3,000 in assets. The SeniorCare program emerged in response to political pressure created by advocacy groups, DeGrand said. Tired of waiting for the federal government to step up to the plate, senior advocates urged Wisconsin legislators to find their own solution to rising drug costs. "The federal government isn't able to address the issue so state are developing their own program because something needed to happen," DeGrand said. Rather than having just one eligibility standard, SeniorCare offers Wisconsin residents at least three chances to qualify for varying levels of coverage. At the lowest level, applicants can obtain generic prescriptions for $5 each and name brand medications for $15. With no set deductible, the only up-front cost for participants is the application fee. At the second level, applicants must pay a $500 deductible before qualifying for similar coverage. For patients falling into a higher income bracket, the eligibility requirements become more complex. At the third tier, seniors must first spend the difference between their annual incomes and the program's eligibility cap of $29,089 per couple before qualifying for benefits. Although SeniorCare might not be the definitive solution to rising drug costs, the new statewide program has offered financial relief to nearly 80,000 Wisconsin residents since it was launched eight months ago. In terms of drug variety, the program provides the same level of coverage as Medicaid. However, the qualification process is much simpler. To be considered for enrollment, Wisconsin residents only have to complete a one-page application with personal information and projected income. A $20 fee is required for enrollment costs. Seniors can get help filling out the application form by visiting the Aging Resource Center at 300 S. Adams St. every Tuesday between the hours of 1 and 2:30 p.m. While the statewide program picked up where Medicaid left off, a more limited range of options exist for patients with income levels rising above either program's cutoff point. Seniors with medium to high income levels are best off exploring drug discount programs, DeGrand said. A number of pharmaceutical companies sell drug discount cards that give patients anywhere between 25 to 50 percent off on most medications. In addition, seniors might find help by networking with nonprofit organizations such as the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups and the Brown County Commission on Aging. Wisconsin residents can obtain more information about the SeniorCare program by visiting the official Web site at www.dhfs.state.wi.us/seniorcareor by calling the tollfree hotline at 1-800-657-2038.