Even Medicare beneficiaries who have Part D drug plans can find that it is difficult to pay for all their prescribed drugs, especially if they take several brand-name drugs and fall into the "doughnut hole."

A person in the hole will be expected to pay in full for his prescription drugs as well as his premiums until his drug costs reach $4,550. After that, he will qualify for the aptly named catastrophic coverage, which means very low co-payments for drugs.

A Medicare beneficiary who makes about $1,239 a month with few assets may qualify for some level of Medicaid, as might a couple making about $1,660 with similar assets. His home does not count toward his asset level. The local Department of Social Services can determine eligibility.

A Medicare beneficiary who makes about $1,300 a month with no more than $12,510 in assets may qualify for Extra Help from the Social Security Administration, as might a couple making about $1,750 with $25,010 in assets. One can apply for this assistance by contacting either the SSA at (800) 772-1213 or the New River Valley Agency on Aging at 980-7720.

However, many Medicare beneficiaries make slightly too much in income or have slightly too many assets to qualify for either of these programs. What about them?

Fortunately there is a program in the New River Valley that may save such people thousands of dollars a year in drug costs and possibly even prevent their falling into the doughnut hole.

Staff members at the New River Valley Medication Assistance Program at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center use a computer program to allow qualified people access to programs sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies.

For a small fee, the program can help them acquire their brand-name drugs, in some cases for no additional cost.

The program can help people of all ages who lack drug coverage to acquire many brand-name drugs, but there are preliminary steps that Medicare beneficiaries with Part D must take before they can qualify.

These pharmaceutical companies will assist only those Medicare beneficiaries who do not qualify for Medicaid or Extra Help.

Additionally, each pharmaceutical assistance plan may have financial qualifications that an applicant must meet in order to receive assistance.

In order to access the NRV-MAP, a Medicare beneficiary must first receive a letter of denial for Extra Help from the SSA.

After receiving the letter of denial, the beneficiary should call the NRV Medication Assistance Program at 731-2414 for further assistance.

Deena Flinchum of Blacksburg is a SHIP/VICAP volunteer with the New River Valley Agency on Aging.