EXAMPLE

George is a prescription drug cardholder certified with the standard expenses May 2005 through June 2006. His $50 subsidy is currently budgeted for this same period as he received the full $600 subsidy for 2005.

January 15th 2006, George calls to report that he has enrolled in Medicare Part D and his drug card is inactive. He indicates he now pays $20 out-of-pocket each month in co-pays and deductibles.

Effective February 2006, we remove the $23 standard expense, budget the $20 per month recurring costs, and continue to allow the $50 averaged subsidy through June 2006 as originally set.

EXAMPLE

Bethany applies for Basic Food in December 2005 and indicates she has the prescription drug card at this time. We certify her benefits through November 2006 allowing for the $23 expense, and the $50 expense only through February 2006 as she received the final quarter prorated 2005 subsidy of $150.

We do not remove the $23 standard expense prior to November 2006 unless Bethany calls us to report the change.

EXAMPLE

Javier does not have a prescription drug discount card. He applies for Basic Food in February 2006 and verifies that he pays $100 in medical expenses each month. Javier also states that he plans to enroll in Medicare Part D to get help with these expenses, perhaps next month. 

We budget the $100 for the entire certification period and encourage Javier to enroll in Part D through SSA. We do not anticipate any changes in his medical expenses based on his stated intentions.

EXAMPLE

Louisa was previously certified with the drug card from December 2004 through November 2005, and is eligible for the $50 averaged subsidy for 24 consecutive months. Louisa was then recertified November 2005 through December 2007 with an active discount drug card. We allow the $23 expense for the entire certification, and continue the $50 through November 2006 as originally set.

EXAMPLE

Richard does not have a discount drug card, and is certified from September 2005 through August 2006 with $250 in regular medical expenses budgeted. April 2, 2006, he reports that he has enrolled in Medicare Part D and his out-of-pocket expenses have decreased to $50. Effective May 2006, we decrease the medical expenses budgeted as he reported.

EXAMPLE

Lee is a prescription drug cardholder and was certified February 2005 through January 2006 using his verified pre-card expenses of $200 per month. At his recertification for February 2006, he reports that his card is still active, and he still wishes to use his pre-card expenses. We certify Lee through January 2008 budgeting the pre-card expenses. 

Unless Lee contacts the department to report a change in his medical expenses, we do not change the amount until his next recertification.