Help Paying for Medicare in North Bergen, New Jersey

Medicare Savings Programs

These state programs, funded with Medicaid dollars, help pay Medicare costs for people with limited income and savings.

• QMB, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, can pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays
• SLMB, the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program, pays the Part B premium
• QI, the Qualifying Individual program, also pays the Part B premium, subject to yearly funding

Qualifying for any of these programs also qualifies you for Extra Help with drug costs. People with QMB should never be billed for Medicare-covered services by providers who accept Medicare, a protection many people do not know about.

New Jersey Programs: PAAD and Senior Gold

New Jersey runs two drug assistance programs for residents 65 and older, and for some people with disabilities. PAAD, the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program, lowers what you pay for covered prescriptions to a small copay. Senior Gold helps people whose income is somewhat above the PAAD limit. Both work alongside a Part D plan, and income limits are updated each year, so check the current figures before you rule yourself out.

Some residents qualify for full NJ FamilyCare coverage too. If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, see our page on dual eligible plans.

What to Gather Before You Apply

• Your Medicare card and Social Security award letter
• Recent bank statements and any pension or other income letters
• A list of your prescriptions
• Any letters you have received from Medicaid or Social Security

We cannot approve applications, since the state and Social Security make those decisions, but we can tell you what each program looks for and help you get your papers in order. Then, in your yearly review, we make sure your plan still fits your new costs.