‘Benefits Checkup’ Offered to Eligible Area Seniors

An estimated 64,000 Missourians lost Missouri Prescription coverage in July.

According to Marilyn Gunter, Director of Care Management, if area seniors are among that group, Care Connection for Aging Services is offering free “Benefits Checkups” to older adults who may need to re-evaluate their qualifications for various benefits plans.

In July, the Missouri Rx prescription drug assistance program expired for lower-income people on Medicare only. According to a press release from Care Connection, to get Missouri Rx, seniors need to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The increased out-of-pocket costs for medications may make certain seniors eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Gunter says that seniors are allowed to deduct the costs of their medications and other day-to-day living expenses, to determine whether they qualify for a SNAP benefit.

'The Benefits Checkup of the National Council on Aging' is described as a free, personalized service. More than 2,000 federal, state and private benefits programs are available, according to the press release.

To make an application for the program, seniors need to know their household expenses and income information for screenings and Social Security numbers.

For more information, call 1-800-748-7826. Care Connection offers in-person 'Benefits Checkups' in the senior centers that service 13 area counties, including Pettis and Johnson.