A meeting will help seniors look for the best deal when shopping for drug discount cards.

WILTON – Senior citizens may be anxious to get their new Medicare-approved drug discount cards, but they should check for the best deal, according to a local senior center coordinator.

The seniors center will host an informational meeting about the cards at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, at SeniorsPlus. A representative from Rep. Michael Michaud’s office will be present to explain the permanent Medicare changes in 2006.

The new program to sign up online became available in early May at www.medicare.gov. The program is expected to deliver a 10 to 15 percent benefit on a specific list of drugs. There are 20 cards available to Mainers – and each will discount a different list of drugs.

The drug discount card program, offered through private drug companies, is considered temporary until the Medicare prescription drug benefit begins Jan. 1, 2006.

“The information on this program is so new that it may change between now and the time it goes into effect in June,” said Sandy Gregor, SeniorsPlus Community Center coordinator in Wilton. “Even the secretary of Health and Human Resources, Tommy Thompson, has recommended that seniors shop’ on the Web site for a couple weeks while things get ironed out.”

Gregor said that any seniors who wish to can go straight to the Web site and sign up on their own. The card anyone chooses will depend the prescriptions they have. Counseling is also available over the phone at 1-800-Medicare.

However, some seniors may find the process so confusing that they would like help in person. Gregor said that SeniorsPlus staff is receiving training and will begin to help with the sign-up process in late May.

Understanding the rules

Rules of the discount card will allow seniors only one chance late in next fall to change the card they have signed up for.

Otherwise, they will have to stick with the card they chose until 2006. Not all drugs are covered by all cards so seniors will have to do careful shopping to find which card presents the most benefits to them, she said.

She said the drug companies are allowed to change their programs, the drugs that a particular card covers and the price they charge for them – on a weekly basis. In the initial period when the cards are posted, there may be some shifting of prices while competition plays its role, and therefore seniors might want to wait before actually signing up, she said.

In addition to the federal program, there are several state programs, which may give seniors better deals. Participants may have and use other cards in addition to the Medicare-approved card, but will only be able to use one card and get one discount at a time.

Signing up for a card is completely voluntary, and there is no deadline for signing up.

“With all of this shifting information, it is important to consider all the programs available to make the best choice,” Gregor said. “If people would like assistance, SeniorsPlus is here to help.”

To make an appointment, phone SeniorsPlus at 645-3315 or toll-free, (800) 427-1241 and ask for the Wilton office.

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