Staff Report

Are you or someone you know having trouble paying for your medicines? Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia will host a Medicare outreach event June 14 starting at 9 a.m. at South Norfolk Community Center (1217 Godwin Avenue in Chesapeake). The event is geared toward Medicare beneficiaries who seek help with their prescription drug costs.

Those who attend will be screened for the Medicare Discount Prescription Drug Card, which offers a $450 credit for those who enroll before June 30, 2005, as well as other free programs that can substantially reduce their medication expenses. Counselors will be on site to enroll eligible people the day of the event. Participants will also learn about &uot;extra help&uot; benefits available through the new &uot;Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Part D,&uot; which will offer prescription drug coverage to all eligible Medicare beneficiaries beginning Jan. 1, 2006.

&uot;We want to help people receive the most help they can with their prescription drug costs,&uot; said John Skirven, Senior Services’ executive director. &uot;There are a variety of cost-saving programs available, and this event will help beneficiaries with limited incomes find the one that is right for them.&uot;

The outreach event is held in partnership with Medicare Today, a nonprofit public advocacy organization.

Attendees should be prepared to answer questions about their monthly income; the name of the prescription drug(s) they are currently taking; the milligram amount and dosage; and information about any medication discount cards they currently hold or any supplemental health insurance policies.

A private, non-profit organization, Senior Services providesadult services for older citizens in Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties. Its headquarters and satellite offices offer everything from home-delivered meals for qualifying seniors to caregiver support services and counseling for Medicare and Medicaid long-term care insurance.

Those who cannot attend the June 14 event may contact Senior Services at (757) 461-9481 or medicationhelp@ssseva.org to make an appointment with an insurance counselor. For additional information, log on to www.ssseva.org

Those attending the June 14 event should have:

nInformation about their monthly income

nThe name of the prescription drug(s) they are currently taking, the milligram amount and dosage

nInformation about any medication discount cards they currently hold or any supplemental health insurance policies