May 9, 2023

Dear friends,

If you are – or if you know of – a low-income Medicare beneficiary, there are important programs that help reduce out-of-pocket expenses to help make Medicare, prescriptions, and food more affordable. And CCHCC can help our community members enroll in those programs!
 
There are helpful programs that too many people do not know about, and are going underutilized by the people who need them the most.
 
These programs included Medicare Savings, Medicare Extra Help, and SNAP (food stamps).
 
Please read below to learn more about these programs, and how to get help with these programs for yourself, or someone you know.
 
Medicare Savings
The Medicare Savings Program can help low-income seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries save thousands of dollars per year on Medicare monthly premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that the Medicare Savings program can help seniors save over $5,300 per year in Medicare-related out-of-pocket expenses.
 
Yet, many of the people who qualify for these programs never apply! Are you one of them?
 
In general, in order to qualify for the Medicare Savings Program, you must:
–       Have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance);
–       An income below $1,639 as an Individual or $2,218 as a Couple; and,
–       Have financial resources less than $9,090 for an individual or $15,160 for a couple.
 
Here is a resource guide from CCHCC about Medicare Savings.
 
Medicare Extra Help
Medicare Extra Help is a program to help with the cost of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and co-pays for prescriptions.

The Extra Help program can also help reduce your monthly prescription plan (Part D) premiums
and deductibles, prevent you from falling into the “coverage gap,” and allows you to switch plans
throughout the year. The Social Security Administration estimates that the Medicare Extra Help program can help seniors save up to $2,050 year in Medicare and prescription drug related expenses.
 
In general, in order to qualify for Medicare Extra Help, you must have income of less than $1,843 for an Individual, and less than $2,485 for a couple. There is a limit on countable resources, and you can see more information about that on CCHCC’s Medicare Extra Help resource guide here.

SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as Food Stamps)
Similar to Medicare Savings and Medicare Extra Help, most seniors who qualify for SNAP (food stamps) do not know about the program or the fact that they might qualify for this form of assistance.
 
SNAP can help a low-income senior save up to approximately $9,000 per year, which can help provide greater financial stability, housing stability, and health and nutritional stability.
 
People ages 60 and older must have monthly incomes at or below $2,127 to qualify for SNAP. Couples must have incomes below $2,873. These amounts represent 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
 
The maximum monthly benefit for a senior (age 60 and older) is $281, and for a couple is $516.
 
For more information, you can look at the IL Department of Human Services website here.

You do NOT have to figure this out on your own! CCHCC can help!
If you or someone you know is interested in finding out about qualifying for, and applying for these programs, CCHCC is here to help!
 
One of CCHCC’s newest staff members is Nicole Mitchell, and she is a Seniors Specialist dedicated to helping low-income seniors apply for benefit programs to help make their health and nutrition more affordable.
 
You can contact Nicole at CCHCC by calling 217-352-6533 or by emailing cchcc@cchcc-il.org.
 
You can help support CCHCC and help others find out about these programs and CCHCC’s services!
CCHCC is on a mission to identify every low-income senior and Medicare beneficiary in our community who can benefit from these programs, so that we can get them enrolled in these benefits! You can help by sharing this message with other people and organizations.

You can also help by making a financial contribution to CCHCC. Your financial contributions help support our outreach and enrollment efforts in Champaign County. You can make a contribution by clicking the Support CCHCC! button below.

SUPPORT CCHCC!

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,
Champaign County Health Care Consumers