Senior News

By Diane Kittelson, Pope County Senior Services Consultant/Coordinator 

A big cut in prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries kicked in on Jan. 1, but finding those savings is not simple.

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act act, there is now a $35 cap on what older adults and other Medicare enrollees pay for insulin, along with free vaccines and other Medicare improvements.

There are some important details for Medicare Part D insulin users to know.

• The prescribed insulin must be covered under their plans formulary to be part of the cap

• Covered Insulins won’t be subject to a deductible

• The $35 monthly cap applies to each prescription of insulin, so those who take two types, for instance, could pay up to $70 a month for their medications.

• Plans have until the end of March 2023 to update their systems to reflect the $35 cap on insulin, which means you might be charged a higher amount during this time when you fill a prescription for insulin. If you play more than $35 for a month’s supply of a covered insulin product in January and/or February 2023, your plan must reimburse you within 30 calendar days for any amount you paid above the $35 cap.

• The law does not cover non-insulin medications, such as Trulicity, that many diabetics use

• For Medicare enrollees who take insulin via a pump, which is covered by Part B, the $35 monthly cap starts on July 1, 2023.

Since these changes came too late to be a part of the Medicare Plan Finder tool, beneficiaries who use insulin have a chance to switch plans this year. You may make ONE change throughout 2023 through a special enrollment period for “exceptional circumstances.”

One of the biggest shortcomings of this law is that the $35 cap only applies to Medicare enrollees. Those not enrolled in Medicare may still use the Minnesota Insulin Safety Net Program. More information for that can be found at www.mninsulin.org

Have questions? The Senior Linkage Line is here to help! Call them at 1-800-333-2433.

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Coffee with a Cop is coming up on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Western Prairie Human Services All senior citizens are invited to join us to get to know your local law enforcement and discuss any current news for our aging community. The March Coffee with a Cop will be held in Starbuck on March 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Nutcracker Café.

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Senior Citizens (over 60 years) can eat lunch for $4. The Senior Nutrition Program / “Meals On Wheels” now serves out of the Village Inn Sports Bar and Cafe, 25 Franklin St. S, Glenwood, MN 56334. The new number to call for meal reservations and Meals on Wheels is 320-634-9961. The food is great and I hope to see you there with the rest of our friends!

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In Pope County there are a variety of senior meetings held all over. We are now starting a senior meeting in Glenwood. Please join us for our first gathering on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Western Prairie Human Services Conference Room. This is information sharing and resources for all senior citizens in Pope County we hope you will join us!

For questions please call Diane Kittelson 320-634-7837.