From the Illinois Department on Aging
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department on Aging Director Charles D. Johnson is reminding Illinois seniors to sign up now for Illinois Cares Rx to avoid a break in coverage and to ensure coverage begins on January 1. Seniors and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply online because it is the fastest way to get approved. Illinois Cares Rx is the state’s prescription drug assistance program that provides wrap-around prescription drug coverage to fill in the gaps created by Medicare Part D. Processing for the online application takes about four weeks and those who apply now would avoid a break in coverage and ensure coverage begins on January 1.
“If you haven’t applied for the Illinois Cares Rx drug coverage program this year because your income was over the limit, or you didn’t think you were eligible, I encourage you to apply,” said Director Johnson. “Seniors who have access to the Internet may file for Illinois Cares Rx online so that you can get your benefits faster. And if you don’t own a computer, I recommend either reaching out to family members who do own computers, visit your local Area Agency on Aging or senior centers, or contact a SHIP volunteer in your community. And remember, if you have any questions, you can always call the Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966.”
To assist those who may need extra help to apply, the Illinois Department of Insurance’s Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is offering free, one-on-one counseling services and in communities across the state to assist Medicare-eligible individuals during the open enrollment period. For a list of SHIP volunteers, visit the SHIP Web site or call SHIP toll-free at 1-800-548-9034.
“The cost of prescription drugs has escalated to the point of being unaffordable for many of the people who rely on them most, especially seniors and people with disabilities,” said Healthcare and Family Services Director Barry S. Maram. “No one should have to go without the medications that keep them healthy, which is why I strongly encourage seniors and people with disabilities to see whether they qualify for prescription drug assistance though Illinois Cares Rx.”
In addition to reminding seniors and people with disabilities to reapply now to avoid a break in coverage, the state is also noting changes that will benefit more enrollees.
A new law will make it easier for some to get into the program. Last month, Governor Pat Quinn signed House Bill 366 into law to expand the Circuit Breaker program, which includes the Illinois Cares Rx program, property tax relief grant and a license plate discount. The new law raises the income eligibility. By allowing higher incomes, more seniors and persons with disabilities will be eligible to receive the state’s prescription drug assistance. The new limits effective on January 1, 2010 will be:
$27,610 (currently $22,218) – for a household size of one
$36,635 (currently $29,480) – for a household size of two
$45,657 (currently $36,740) – for a household size of three or more
More good news is that the medications available to Illinois Cares Rx enrollees also have been expanded.
In *2008 235,236 applied online, compared to *2007 when 158,888 applied online and 75,288 in *2006, the first year the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) had made the Illinois Cares Rx application available online. *Each year listed accounts for the previous claim year.
Before logging on to the Internet, individuals should have the following information available: Social Security number(s), amount of property taxes paid in 2008, amount of rent paid in 2008, and a copy of 2008 federal tax returns.
Seniors with questions about Illinois Cares Rx may log on to www.cbrx.il.gov or call the Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966.
Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Illinois Dept. on Aging Hosts a Conference on Improving the Lives of Older Adults
From the Illinois Department on Aging
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), in collaboration with the National Governors Association (NGA), hosted A Day of Celebration and Conversation about the Civic Engagement of Older Adults today at the State Capitol. The event, which included breakout sessions on education and training, employment and service, highlighted experts who then worked with participants to develop the beginning of a blueprint for engaging older adults in Illinois.
This initiative began in June 2008, when Illinois was selected to participate in the NGA Policy Academy on the Civic Engagement of Older Adults. For the past year, IDoA Director Charles D. Johnson has led this statewide effort, working with a 12 member core team and a 36 member advisory team, to develop strategies to get older adults in Illinois engaged in civic activity in their communities. The group had a particular interest to increase the proportion of seniors who are employed or participate in volunteer activities.
“This initiative will expand our state’s progressive record to support older adults and their families,” said Director Johnson, who serves as the Illinois team leader. “The goal for today’s meeting is to set in place new momentum for promoting civic engagement through individuals, organizations and networks. Today’s event included sessions with speaker presentations and then a group discussion on topics that will lead back to the question “How can we promote civic engagement for older adults?”
In addition to the experts who lead the breakout sessions, participants also heard from The Honorable Deanna Demuzio, State Senator, on behalf of Senate President John Cullerton, Linda
Hoffman of the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices, Bob Gallo, state director of AARP, and a keynote address by Merri Dee, former WGN TV anchor from Chicago and state president of AARP.
Efforts for next steps were also announced with a proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn. The proclamation Launch of 2010: The Year of the Engaged Older Illinoisan, states that The Year 2010 will mark a celebration of engaged citizens in communities and neighborhoods across the state with events that encourage participation in learning, service and work. Planning for those events will begin in January 2010.
A list of members of the Illinois Core Team follows.
Members of the Illinois Core Team:
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA), in collaboration with the National Governors Association (NGA), hosted A Day of Celebration and Conversation about the Civic Engagement of Older Adults today at the State Capitol. The event, which included breakout sessions on education and training, employment and service, highlighted experts who then worked with participants to develop the beginning of a blueprint for engaging older adults in Illinois.
This initiative began in June 2008, when Illinois was selected to participate in the NGA Policy Academy on the Civic Engagement of Older Adults. For the past year, IDoA Director Charles D. Johnson has led this statewide effort, working with a 12 member core team and a 36 member advisory team, to develop strategies to get older adults in Illinois engaged in civic activity in their communities. The group had a particular interest to increase the proportion of seniors who are employed or participate in volunteer activities.
“This initiative will expand our state’s progressive record to support older adults and their families,” said Director Johnson, who serves as the Illinois team leader. “The goal for today’s meeting is to set in place new momentum for promoting civic engagement through individuals, organizations and networks. Today’s event included sessions with speaker presentations and then a group discussion on topics that will lead back to the question “How can we promote civic engagement for older adults?”
In addition to the experts who lead the breakout sessions, participants also heard from The Honorable Deanna Demuzio, State Senator, on behalf of Senate President John Cullerton, Linda
Hoffman of the National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices, Bob Gallo, state director of AARP, and a keynote address by Merri Dee, former WGN TV anchor from Chicago and state president of AARP.
Efforts for next steps were also announced with a proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn. The proclamation Launch of 2010: The Year of the Engaged Older Illinoisan, states that The Year 2010 will mark a celebration of engaged citizens in communities and neighborhoods across the state with events that encourage participation in learning, service and work. Planning for those events will begin in January 2010.
A list of members of the Illinois Core Team follows.
Members of the Illinois Core Team:
- Team Leader: Charles D. Johnson, director, Illinois Department on Aging
- Project Director: Jane Angelis, director, Intergenerational Initiative, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Representative from the Governor’s Office: Cory Foster, director, Community Affairs
- Bob Gallo, state director, AARP
- Marilyn Hennessy, president, Retirement Research Foundation
- John Hosteny, Illinois director, Corporation for National and Community Service
- Peggy Luce, vice president, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
- Edward Maloney, chair, Senate Higher Education Committee
- Robert Mees, president, IL Community College Council of Presidents, & president, John A. Logan College
- Michael O’Donnell, executive director, East Central IL Area Agency on Aging & chair, IL Assoc. of AAA
- John Sirek, director, Citizenship, McCormick Foundation
- Bernarda Wong, president, Chinese American Service League
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