From Sharon O'Brien,
Your Guide to Senior Living.
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An estimated 5 million older Americans are about to lose $600 in free prescription drugs when the 2004 Medicare-approved drug discount program expires on December 31.

In an effort to get more low-income seniors to sign up for the free Medicare drug discount cards, Federal officials have created a quick sign-up process by phone or online.

Many Seniors Don’t Know About It
The goal is to make it easy for seniors to enroll in the program, which has not attracted much attention from the people who could benefit the most. Low-income seniors often cannot afford expensive medications, and this program—which is an addition to existing Medicare coverage—works like “free money” and allows seniors to purchase medications they might not otherwise afford.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers the program, at least 7 million low-income seniors qualify for the benefit, and most have not signed up.

How to Sign Up
The program offers different cards to choose from. For information on which card is best for you, along with how to sign up, call Medicare toll-free at 1-800-633-4227, or see Medicare online to find the best card and download an application.

Note: For details on the Medicare drug discount card program and what it offers for seniors and people with disabilities, see the article: Medicare Drug Discount Cards Help Seniors Save on Prescriptions.