Property you own that the government may review when you apply for assistance. For help with a Part D plan's costs, the government counts cash or any property that can be turned into cash within 20 days. This includes checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and401(k)s, stocks, bonds, and similar items. It does not include your primary home, or certain property related to burial expenses. "; break; case "Brand": mmaDef = "Brand Name Drug:<\/b>
Brand name drugs are prescription drugs that are sold under a trademarked brand name and have a patent. The patent prohibits other companies from making the drug. The generic version of the drug can only be made and sold after the patent expires and they usually cost less then the brand name equivalent."; break; case "CMS": mmaDef = "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):<\/b>
The Federal agency that runs the Medicare program."; break; case "Copay": mmaDef = "Co-pay or Co-payment:<\/b>
In Medicare prescription drug plans, the amount you pay for each prescription. A co-payment is usually a set amount you pay. For example, this could be $10 or $20 for a prescription."; break; case "Coinsur": mmaDef = "Co-insurance:<\/b>
The amount you may be required to pay for services after you pay any plan deductibles. In a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, the coinsurance will vary depending on how much you have spent. For example, you pay would pay 25% and the plan would pay 75%."; break; case "CovGap": mmaDef = "Coverage Gap:<\/b>
A name for a stage in a Part D plan in where you are responsible for 100% of the costs for eligible drugs until you have spent $4,350 - which is the maximum for this stage. Another name for this stage is the donut hole"; break; case "Deduct": mmaDef = "Deductible:<\/b>
The amount you must pay for your prescriptions, before your prescription drug plan begins to pay. For a standard Medicare Part D plan, you may have to pay the first $295 of your eligible drug expenses of each calendar year as your deductible."; break; case "Eligibility": mmaDef = "Eligibility Requirements:<\/b>
Your eligibility depends on your annual income (All income from retirement benefits and other income you would report for your tax purposes) and resources. If your income is less than $15,600 for single individuals or $21,000 for a married couple living together and your assets (property besides your primary residence) are less than $11,990 if you are single or $23,970 if you are married and living with your spouse than you may qualify for extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug costs*. * Example of 2009 figures. Figures may vary in Alaska and Hawaii."; break; case "Formulary": mmaDef = "Formulary:<\/b>
A Formulary or Performance Drug List (PDL) is an easy reference guide of brand name and generic drugs that are covered by a plan."; break; case "Generic": mmaDef = "Generic Drug:<\/b>
A prescription drug that has the same active ingredient formula as a brand name drug. A generic drug is known only by its formula name and its formula is available to any pharmaceutical company. Generic drugs are rated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be as safe and as effective as brand name drugs and are typically less costly."; break; case "MedNecess": mmaDef = "Medically Necessary:<\/b>
Services or supplies that are proper and needed for the diagnosis or treatment of your medical condition, are provided for the diagnosis, direct care, and treatment of your medical condition, meet the standards of good medical practice in the local area, and aren’t mainly for the convenience of you or your doctor."; break; case "MediAdvant": mmaDef = "Medicare Advantage Plan:<\/b>
A plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. In most cases, Medicare Advantage Plans also offer Medicare prescription drug coverage. A Medicare Advantage Plan can be an HMO, PPO, or a Private Fee-for-Service Plan."; break; case "MediGap": mmaDef = "Medigap Policy:<\/b>
Also known as Medicare supplement insurance polices that are sold by private insurance companies to fill “gaps” in original Medicare plan coverage. There are 10 standardized plans labeled Plan A through Plan J, except in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin."; break; case "MMA": mmaDef = "MMA:<\/b>
Medicare Modernization Act"; break; case "Open": mmaDef = "Open Enrollment:<\/b>
Period between Nov. 15th – Dec. 31st of every year when individuals may change plans without a penalty."; break; case "Premium": mmaDef = "Premium:<\/b>
The periodic amount you pay for an insurance plan or insurance coverage."; break; case "Resources": mmaDef = "Resources:<\/b>
Investments and real estate. Include the things you own by yourself, with your spouse or with someone else. Do not include your home, vehicles, burial plots or personal possessions."; break; case "Single": mmaDef = "Single:<\/b>
If you are single, a widow(er) or your spouse does not live with you."; break; case "Tier": mmaDef = "Tier:<\/b>
A Part D prescription drug plan’s formulary includes different levels of drug coverage, or tiers. The co-payment you pay depends on the tier (or coverage level) assigned to your prescription drug."; break; case "TrOOP": mmaDef = "True Out-Of-Pocket (TrOOP):<\/b>
Is the amount you actually pay as your share of prescription drug costs, which include deductibles, co-insurance, co-pays and the amount you pay in the coverage gap. When your “true out-of-pocket costs” exceed $4,350 dollars, you move to the catastrophic coverage stage of your Part D Plan coverage."; break; } return mmaDef; }