The new prescription drug benefit added to the federal Medicare program, known as Medicare Part D. The prescription drug coverage will begin on January 1, 2006.

The federal agency that runs the Medicare program, including the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit program. In addition, CMS works with the States to run the Medicaid program.

The federal health insurance program for: people 65 years of age or older; certain younger people with disabilities; and people of any age with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure with dialysis or a transplant), sometimes called ESRD. Part A pays for hospital care, Part B pays for doctor visits, Part C includes the managed care option, and Part D is the new prescription drug benefit.

A private insurance plan that offers coverage for prescription drugs under Medicare, also known as a Medicare prescription drug plan.

Regular monthly payment made to a health or prescription drug plan by beneficiaries for health care coverage. The lowest average premium for a Medicare prescription drug plan is expected to be about $32.

The Part D prescription drug plan that will be offered to enrollees in a Medicare Advantage managed care plan.

Under Medicare, limited income refers to income below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2005, the year Medicare prescription drug benefit goes into effect, this is equal to a yearly income of $14,355 for an individual and $19,245 for a couple, with other resources of no more than $11,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a couple.

The name that has been given to the low-income subsidy program for Medicare Part D. Extra Help will pay for part or all of the Medicare prescription drug premiums for Medicare beneficiaries who have incomes below 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) (including dual eligibles) and part of the premium for those who have incomes between 135% and 150 % of the FPL. The benefit will protect beneficiaries under 150 % of the FPL from the gap in coverage referred to as the "doughnut hole." Dual eligibles will get this benefit without applying. All others will need to apply for Extra Help.

A person who is eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. CMS will automatically enroll dual eligibles in low-premium PDPs. If they choose to stay in a low-premium PDP, dual eligibles’ only cost for drugs will be a $1 co-pay for generic drugs and a $3 co-pay for brand-name drugs.

A program to help aged, blind, and/or disabled people who have little or no income pay for basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.

Medicaid programs that help pay for some or all of Medicare premiums and deductibles.

Low-income individuals with Medicare, including Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMB), and Qualifying Individuals (QI), as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and individuals with Medicare Savings Plans. These individuals will have facilitated enrollment by CMS into prescription drug plans and will receive financial help with the costs of Medicare Part D.

The process by which CMS will randomly assign individuals with both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles) into prescription drug plans (PDPs).

A list of medications that a prescription drug plan covers (prior authorization by the Medicare prescription drug plan may be required).

A flat dollar amount a person must pay before Medicare will pay for prescription drugs costs. The standard yearly deductible for Medicare patients who don’t have a low-income subsidy is $250.

A dollar amount that a person must pay out-of-pocket for a medication or other health service. For example, a PDP may ask for a $3 co-payment for each generic prescription and $5 for brand name prescriptions. Co-pays may be further tiered by PDPs to discourage use of more expensive drugs.

This option allows a person to spend down to Medicaid eligibility by having medical expenses that can be subtracted from their income. Subtracting medical expenses such as prescription drugs and eye glasses from your income can reduce a person’s income to a level below the maximum allowed by a particular state’s Medicaid plan.

A Medicare supplement insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to fill "gaps" in original Medicare coverage.

A joint federal and state program that provides medical coverage for people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state.

A person with an income equal to or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and limited financial resources who receives some assistance with Medicare costs but is not on Medicaid.

A person with an income between 120% and 135% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and limited financial resources who receives some assistance with Medicare costs but is not on Medicaid.

A person with an income equal to or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and limited financial resources who receives some assistance with Medicare costs but is not on Medicaid.

A person with an income between 100% and 120% of the Federal Poverty Level and limited financial resources who receives some assistance with Medicare costs but is not on Medicaid.

Specific drugs on a formulary may require that the physician seek approval from the prescription drug plan (PDP) before the prescription can be filled.

(Also known as "step therapy") This requires that a patient fail on one or more preferred formulary drugs—generally lower price, or generic drugs—before a prescription will be filled for the non-preferred drug a physician has determined would be most appropriate/effective for the patient.

(Also known as "fail first") This requires that a patient fail on one or more preferred formulary drugs—generally lower price, or generic drugs—before a prescription will be filled for the non-preferred drug a physician has determined would be most appropriate/effective for the patient.

The government will pay most (or in some cases, all) of your drug costs for the rest of the year, once you pay $3,600 in out-of-pocket expenses (this amount may increase on a yearly basis and does not include premium payments). Out-of-pocket costs include all prescription drug costs paid by you or another person or organization, including the government (for example, Extra Help), State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs), registered charities, and pharmaceutical manufacturer patient assistance programs. The out-of-pocket costs include payment of the deductible, co-insurance, co-payments, and medication costs that are not covered by other insurance. These costs do not include expenses paid by the individual with Medicare prescription drug coverage for medications that are not on a plan’s covered list of drugs or for medications excluded from the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

A written notice from the Medicare prescription drug plan informing the patient that they will or will not cover a prescribed medication.

The first phase of the appeals process; a formal decision by a Medicare prescription drug plan to cover a medication not on its formulary, or to reduce a co-payment for a drug not on the PDP’s preferred list. If the plan does not approve the exception, the appeals process can continue.

The fifth stage of the Medicare prescription drug benefit appeals process is conducted by the Medicare Appeals Council (part of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services), after an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has denied a request to cover a medication.

The third stage of the Part D appeals process; an IRE reviews a plan’s decision not to cover a medication. An IRE is a review body that is under contract with the prescription drug plan to do such reviews.

A hearings officer who presides over appeal conflicts between providers of services or beneficiaries and Medicare contractors.

The third stage of the appeals process; after a redetermination has been denied. This stage of the appeals process is conducted by an Independent Review Entity (IRE).

The FPL serves as one of the indicators for determining eligibility in a wide variety of federal and state programs.

Medical services or supplies that: are proper and needed for the diagnosis or treatment of a patient’s medical condition; are provided for the diagnosis, direct care, and treatment of a patient’s medical condition; meet the standards of good medical practice in the area; and are not chosen mainly for the convenience of the patient or doctor.

Someone who has Medicare prescription drug coverage. (See also: dual eligible.)

(Also known as Extra Help) A program that will pay for part or all of the Medicare prescription drug premiums for Medicare beneficiaries who have incomes below 135% of the federal poverty level (FPL) (including dual eligibles) and part of the premium for those who have incomes between 135% and 150% of the FPL. Dual eligibles will get this benefit without applying. All others will need to apply.

The federal government agency that administers and enrolls Medicare beneficiaries into the low-income subsidy program, Extra Help.

A state-financed and state-administered program that provides pharmaceutical assistance to certain populations, most often seniors. SPAPs usually work one of two ways: (1) by providing subsidies to qualified individuals for help with costs associated with prescription drugs, or (2) by providing drugs at a discount directly to individuals. At least 41 states have established or authorized some type of SPAP to provide pharmaceutical coverage or assistance, primarily to low-income elderly or persons with disabilities who do not qualify for Medicaid.

A state program that gets money from the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare.

A managed care benefit that exists in certain areas of the U.S. and provides a medical and social service delivery system through a nonprofit or public entity, combining Medicaid and Medicare financing.