GLS offering Medicare Premium assistance

ATLANTA — Georgia Legal Services Benefits Hotline has been receiving calls from Medicare recipients, including seniors about a Georgia program that pays Medicare premiums for some who get Medicare.

Some qualifying Medicaid recipients have been wrongfully terminated because of their annual social security increase. Most years in January, February, or March, the cost of living adjustments increase Social Security payments.

The State however, does not always adjust the program that pays for Medicare premiums ( MSP) limits at the same time. Because of this, some recipients are told that they are over the income limits for the program that pays their Medicare premiums when they should not be cut off.

Georgia policies require that the state not cut off the Medicare premium payment programs (Medicare Savings Programs) because of the annual increases.

The State is aware of this error, and when notified often fixes this problem for wrongfully terminated recipients. Unfortunately many recipients do not understand why their benefits have been terminated, or who to contact to fix the error.

Georgia Legal Services Program’s Benefits Hotline helps to bring awareness and provide information on many of the benefits programs that Georgia has in place.

For more information on these programs, contact the GLSP Hotline at 1(888)632-6332 or go to www.glsp.org.

The Benefits Hotline helps seniors and disabled Georgians apply for, renew, or keep their Medicaid, MSP, and SNAP (food stamps) benefits.

Contact Vicky Kimbrell, GLSP Benefits Hotline Project Director at 404 563-7710 ext. 1603 or (404) 429-0263 for more information.