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Ilinois State Pharmacy Assistance Programs

Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance, and Illinois SeniorCare




Eligiblity Requirements

Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance:
 To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:
  • You must have been 65 years of age or older before January 1, 2005; or You must become 65 years of age during 2005 (for a partial grant); or You must have been 16 years of age or older before January 1, 2005, and totally disabled; or you must be a widow or widower who turned 63 or 64 years of age before the deceased claimant's death; and
  • You must have lived in an Illinois residence in 2003 that was subject to property or mobile home tax; and
  • You must live in Illinois at the time you file the application; and
  • Your total income in 2004 must be less than $21,218 if filing an application for yourself only; 28,480 if filing an application for yourself and your spouse*, or yourself and one qualified additional resident, or $35,740 if filing an application for yourself, your spouse and at least one qualified additional resident, or yourself and at least two qualified additional residents. * If your spouse lives with you, you must add your spouse's income to your income. ** Do not include any qualified additio


Illinois SeniorCare:
 You can enroll in SeniorCare if you meet the following criteria:
  • Group 1: Seniors age 65 or older. If single, income not to exceed $19,140; if married, income not to exceed $25,660. Must be a citizen or a qualified non-citizen. or,
  • Group 2: Seniors or persons with disabilities with incomes less than $21,219 if single; if married, income not to exceed $28,480. No citizenship requirement.





Important Note

Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance:
 You can apply for the program by calling the toll free number listed above or by visiting the Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance Website. Toll free number can be accessed only within Illinois.
  • The program covers approved medications used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, glaucoma, lung disease and smoking-related illness, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and Parkinson's disease.
  • Coverage will cost $5.00 and you will not have a copayment for your prescriptions if:

    • your marital status is single and your total income is less than $8,590;

    • your marital status is married and living separately and your total income is less than $8,590; or

    • your marital status is married and living together, and your total income is less than $11,610

  • Coverage will cost $25.00 and you will have a $3.00 copayment for each prescription if:

    • your marital status is single and your total income is $8,590 or more;

    • your marital status is married


Illinois SeniorCare:
 If not eligible for Part D, copayments are $2/$5. Once the SPAP has paid $1750 in benefits, the beneficiary will pay 20% coinsurance in addition to the copayments. Group 1: Covers all classes of drugs. Group 2: Covers drugs used to treat. Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, glaucoma, cardiovascular disease, lung disease and smoking-related illnesses, osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis." The Circuit Breaker SPAP and Senior Care Pharmacy Plus programs will merge to become Illinois Cares Rx. $2/$5 copayments. Once the SPAP has paid $1750 in benefits, the beneficiary will pay 20% coinsurance in addition to the copayments. Two PDPs have agreed to accept the state's lump sum payment option. Group 1: After $5,100 of Rx drug spending by state and Medicare, coinsurance for Medicare beneficiaries drops to 5%. State completed auto-assignment in November. Next phase to begin mid-January, for those who have signed up for the SPAP since November 1, 2005. Auto-assignment will continue twice a month by the 15th and clean up file by the 23rd New cards were mailed in December.





Contact Information


  Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance Illinois SeniorCare
Phone (800) 624-2459 (800) 226-0768
Address P.O. Box 19022
Springfield, IL 62794		 SeniorCare Illinois Department on Aging
P.O. Box 19021
Springfield, IL 62794




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  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
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  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
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  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.
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