Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program - HIICAP

FREE and Unbiased Information and Assistance With:

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Medigap Supplemental Plans
• EPIC - NYS Prescription Benefit for Seniors
• Extra Help Low Income Subsidy
• Medicare Savings Program

2024 Medigap Supplement Information and Rates

Medicare & You 2025 Handbook

2024: Saving You Money, One Program at a Time

Extra Help/Low Income Subsidy

Medicare beneficiaries can qualify for Extra Help through Social Security Administration to receive help with their part D prescription drug plan costs (up to $5,000 per year). To qualify, a person must have Medicare and have limited resources and income.

• Monthly Income Limit: $1,882 (Single) or $2,555 (Married)
• Asset Limit: $17,220 (Single) or $34,360 (Married)

Medicare Savings Program

This program pays for Medicare part B premium and may pay for co-insurances and deductible. You must have Medicare part A and limited income.

• Monthly Income Limit: $2,355 (Single) or $3,189 (Married)

EPIC (NYS Elder Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage)

May assist income-eligible seniors (65+) to supplement out-of-pocket Medicare Part D Prescription costs. You can apply at any time of the year and must be enrolled into a Medicare part D drug plan to receive EPIC benefits.

• Yearly Income Limit: $75,000 (Single) or $100,000 (Married)

What's in My Mailbox?

Helpful Links and Information

Medicare - www.medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048
Click here to link to "Medicare Interactive"
Click here for Medicare Plan Finder
Click here to link to the Medicare Rights Center

EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage)

EPIC is a New York State sponsored prescription plan for New York State residents age 65+ with incomes in the previous year no greater than $75,000 (single) or $100,000 (married couple) who would like help paying for their Part D premium and prescriptions. Having EPIC also provides for one Special Enrollment annually in order to change a Part D plan. Over 300,000 seniors already belong and are saving, on average, over 80% on the cost of their medicines.

Link to the EPIC website: Click Here

Medicare beneficiaries who have Medicaid or the Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help Low Income Subsidy through the Social Security Administration, are able to change their Medicare Part D plan one time during each of the first three quarters of a year.

Dental Network Access Program  This program costs an individual $52/year rather than $30-$50/month. It costs $64/month for a family plan. With this program, patients without dental insurance are billed lower, more affordable fees.Visit their website to access the DenteMax network list of dentists and dental specialist throughout Onondaga County as well as estimated costs of procedures.
https://www.heginc.com/dental/index.htm

For further information or for free, unbiased information and assistance, Onondaga County residents can call Onondaga County Office for Aging HIICAP (Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program) at 315-435-2362.  Residents of other counties can call their local Office for Aging.