Social Security Letters Alert Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries to Missed Benefits
Medicare Rights Center Can Help Older Adults Enroll in Low-Income Programs

New York, NY—Beginning this week, people with Medicare will receive a letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) if they may be eligible for help with their out-of-pocket medical and drug expenses. The Medicare Rights Center encourages beneficiaries who receive these letters to take action to learn more about the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) and Extra Help.

The letters are sent annually to people with Medicare with limited incomes who could be eligible for—but are not enrolled in—an MSP, which helps with Medicare out-of-pocket costs, or Extra Help, which helps with the costs of prescription drugs.

“These letters are not a scam,” said Joe Baker, president of Medicare Rights. “They are an important notification that Medicare beneficiaries should review and consider. We can help determine if they’re eligible, apply, enroll, and even understand how to use their new benefits once they’ve been approved.”

Anyone receiving a letter—or who believes they or a loved one may be able to get help from these programs—should contact the Medicare Rights Center at 1-800-333-4114 for assistance.

In addition, people with Medicare can visit Medicare Interactive, the Medicare Rights’ online resource with hundreds of answers to Medicare questions, to see if they are eligible for MSPs, Extra Help and other benefits that can supplement their monthly budget. Or, to apply for Extra Help directly , visit the SSA website.

Contact: Mitchell Clark – mclark@medicarerights.org – 212-204-6286

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