Financial Resources

The Pharmaceutical Assistance Program

*This section of the report is mandated by the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act (PA 83-1531).

The intent behind the program

The Pharmaceutical Assistance program was created by the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act through the extension in 1985 of the enabling legislation for the Circuit Breaker tax relief program. The program was designed to give low-income senior and disabled residents access to essential medication. Each year, a participant “purchases” Pharmaceutical Assistance coverage at nominal cost and receives approved prescription medication through participating pharmacies. Each participant is issued a Pharmaceutical Assistance card, which validates his or her participation in the program and shows the effective dates of coverage.

Eligibility requirements

To receive Pharmaceutical Assistance, the applicant must

1.	be 65 years of age or older before January 1, 2002, or be 16 years of age or older before January 1, 2002, and totally disabled, or be a widow or widower who turned 63 or 64 before the deceased claimant’s death
2.	live in Illinois at the time he or she filed the application
3.	your total income in 2001 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*.
4.	file Form IL-1363, Application for Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance, postmarked on or before December 31, 2002.

Applying for benefits

An applicant may be eligible for Pharmaceutical Assistance regardless of whether or not he or she receives a Property Tax grant.

To apply for Pharmaceutical Assistance, the applicant should file Form IL-1363, Application for Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance , marking “yes” in Step 1, Line 5, of the form. The claimant’s spouse can also apply for Pharmaceutical Assistance by marking “yes” in Step 2, Line 11, of the same form. A qualified additional resident can also apply by marking "yes" in the box requesting coverage on Step 1 of Schedule B. A claimant must file a claim and meet the eligibility requirements each year he or she wishes to participate in the program.

If a Circuit Breaker applicant applies for Pharmaceutical Assistance by mistake and receives a card validating his or her participation in the program, the applicant can return the card before the expiration date for a refund of the annual fee (provided he or she did not use any Pharmaceutical Assistance benefits).

If an applicant, applicant's spouse, or qualified additional resident wishes to participate in the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program after they have filed their Circuit Breaker application, they should call for information on how to apply.

Drugs covered

The program covers approved prescription medications used for the treatment of

	heart and blood pressure problems, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, glaucoma, and lung disease and smoking related illnesses, and osteoporosis.
	a vehicle license discount

Costs to the participant

The annual cost of Pharmaceutical Assistance coverage is based on your total income.

Coverage will cost $5 if: (no co-payment is required)

	your marital status is single and your total income is less than $8,590; or
	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 if: (A $3.00 co-payment for each prescription is required to be paid to the pharmacy.)

	your marital status is single and your total income is $8,590 or more; or
	your marital status is married and living separately and your total income is $8,590 or more; or
	your marital status is married and living together, and your total income is $11,610 or more.

Other Costs:
The program pays for your prescriptions until the accumulated total paid reaches $2,000 for the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Then you must pay the pharmacist 20 percent of the cost for each prescription. This charge is in addition to your co-payment.

For more information on the program visit www.revenue.state.il.us/circuitbreaker.