S.C. program covers Medicare drug gap

Some low-income seniors still have an opportunity to evade Medicare Part D's "doughnut hole."

They can enroll penalty-free in a state-funded prescription drug assistance program that supplements the standard Medicare plans and that will pay 95 percent of seniors' drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100.

The Gap Assistance Pharmacy Program for Seniors (GAPS), administered by the state's Department of Health and Human Services, covers seniors with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

That's $19,596 for individuals and $26,400 for couples.

Qualifying seniors can switch to one of 11 prescription drug plans in the GAPS program.

More information is available at www.scdhhs.gov.

Seniors also can call (800) 772-1213 or visit www.socialsecurity.gov to learn whether they qualify for extra federal assistance through the Extra Help program.