
PASBF Medicare and Other Benefits
Below you will find information about the benefits available through IGRC and PASBF. This includes Medicare, Medicare Part D, and more. To learn more, simply click on the + sign on the right side of the box you want to read- the information will then drop down for you to read.
IGRC Medicare Supplement
PASBF donates $1.5 million for the purchase of the Medicare Supplement for retired clergy and spouses who qualify. The plan is similar to a Medicare Plan F. There is no prescription coverage in this supplement. Retirees and spouses must purchase their own Medicare Part D Plan.
There are NO Deductibles or Co-Pays in our plan. Retirees and spouses should have no out of pocket expenses on all covered expenses.
General rule of thumb for IGRC Supplement Plan, if Medicare covers it, our supplement will cover it. If you are ever in doubt, always have the doctor’s office call to ensure coverage.
Expenses are listed below for the plan:
Covered Medical Expenses |
Retired Clergy |
Spouse/Surviving Spouse |
Premiums |
$35/ month |
$70/ month |
Deductibles |
$0 |
$0 |
Co-Pays |
$0 |
$0 |
Click here for the Vesting Rules.
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Keith Anderson at 217-529-3221.
Medicare Tips
How to Use Medicare’s Website Interpreting Plan SummariesReducing Prescription Drug Costs When To Switch Part D Plans2020 Medicare Part D Schedule of Benefits PASBF Medicare Part D Benefit
Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
Reducing your prescription drug costs.
We all know that, even with insurance, prescription drugs can take a huge bite out of a monthly budget. Here are several ideas for how you can reduce this expense:
Still need assistance? Here are 7 places to contact for help with prescription drug costs:
- Be enrolled in Medicare
- Be a current Illinois resident
- Have annual income levels (including all income, but not counting any assets)
- Singles – $21,780
- Married – $29,420
How to Use Medicare.gov
How to use Medicare.gov
1) Go to www.medicare.gov
2) Under Find Plans at the top, click on “Compare Drug and Health Insurance Plans”
3) Enter Your Zip Code and click “Find Plans”
4) Under Step 1 0f 4: Enter Information
– Once you enter your drugs My Drug Profile is creating showing:
- Fixed Cost
- Estimated Annual Drug Cost
- What You Pay
- Estimated Monthly Drug Costs
- Drug Coverage Information
- Pharmacy and Mail Order Information
- Drug List
Enrollment Steps for Medicare Part D
Enrollment steps for Medicare Part D drug plans
Enrollment Procedure:
- The phone number to enroll can be found under the name of the plan you have chosen.
- During the enrollment process, be sure to:
- Confirm Plan Name
- Confirm all costs: premiums, deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance
- Ask for a confirmation number and note the date of the phone call
- Choose to pay your premium from one of these options:
- Automatic withdrawal from your bank account
- Automatic credit card payment
- Receive bills monthly and pay by check
- It is IMPORTANT to keep this letter on file indefinitely.
- Use it if a Part D Drug plan wants proof after your enrollment, that you were covered by qualified creditable drug coverage prior to January 1, 2012. Wait to be asked to send a copy of the letter.
- At some point, the drug plan may request proof of the date your creditable drug “employer” coverage ended. This information sheet will provide the response they need.
- Keep the original sheet. If requested, send a copy to the drug plan.
Interpreting Plan Summaries
Interpreting the plan summaries
- Contains your Zip Code, Drug List Number, and Password Date.
- These items are useful if you go to Medicare.gov. Using these three pieces of information, you can retrieve your drug information.
- You will need both the Plan Name and Plan Code Number to enroll in the plan.
- Contact Information for the Plan is located to the right of the name.
- To Enroll, you will call the Non-Member Phone Number.
- The higher number of stars the better the rating.
- However, you cannot tell why a particular plan received a higher or lower rating. You can be confident in all the plans since they have been approved by Medicare.
- The Monthly Plan Premium and any Annual Drug Deductibles are listed.
- Monthly Plan Premium – the amount you will pay each month for the plan whether you use the plan or not.
- Annual Drug Deductible – the amount you will pay out of pocket before the plan benefits begin. The premium does not count toward the deductible; only the actual cost of the drug(s) counts.
- These costs will not change during the year
- Each plan will have its own premium and deductible charges.
Estimated Annual Drug Costs
- Located under the Fixed Costs.
- Your decision making begins here. Select the plan that meets your needs at the lowest annual cost. You should take into consideration the total annual out-of-pocket cost for each pharmacy that you selected and mail order (if available). The cost includes all premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance.
- By clicking on the pharmacy name, the cost details at that particular pharmacy will appear.
Drug Cost and Plan Coverage are listed for each drug
- First column lists the full cost of the drug
- Second column is the refill frequency
- The rest of the columns show your out-of-pocket expense for each drug:
- If the plan has a Deductible, the next column shows you paying the full amount of the drug until you reach the deductible amount:
- Initial Coverage Level – shows what you pay when the plan is in full effect
- Coverage Gap – shows what you pay when you are in the donut hole/coverage gap. This column is included whether you reach the donut hole or not. For a definition of the donut hole, click here.
- Catastrophic Coverage – shows the amount you pay when you have reached the far side of the donut hole.
Estimated Monthly Drug Costs- A bar graph depicts your monthly cost for that plan
- If there is a deductible, you will notice a decrease in the expenses once the deductible is fully met
- If you reach the donut hole, you will see an increase in the monthly cost in the middle of the year
- If you reach catastrophic coverage, you will see a decrease in the monthly expenses as you leave the coverage gap
Drug Coverage Information- Each drug is listed along with its Tier (Formulary Status), Prior Authorization, Quantity Limits, and STEP Therapy
- If a drug has a Quantity Limit, click on YES for more details
- Ideally, you want to have all of your medications to be Tier 1 drugs as these are the least expensive drugs
- Each plan determines its own Formulary List, therefore, the same drug can be different tier levels depending upon the plan
Drug List- The list of the medications that you typed in are listed along with their quantity and frequency
Hearing Aid and Dental Loans
Deductible: $500 paid by participant. Send bill for the balance to PASBF
Interest Rate: 1% Simple Interest
Term: Up to 5 years
Maximum Loan Amount: $5,000 per person
Dental Plan and EnrollmentInstructions and Payment Form
Preachers’ Aid and Ampliphon
Go to PASBF – Amplifon webpage.
PASBF has teamed up with Amplifon to bring discounts on over 2,000 hearing aids. And, through July 2017, Amplifon will give you a FREE hearing test at one of their clinics. Call 855-508-5462 to schedule an appointment. Go to Amplifon brochure with gift certificate.
Ampliphon does offer a 1-year, interest free loan for hearing aids. You may use their service or you the loan option from PASBF – details to the right.
PASBF Hearing Aid Loan
Deductible: $500 paid by participant. Send bill for the balance to PASBF
Interest Rate: 1% Simple Interest
Term: Up to 5 years
Maximum Loan Amount: $5,000 per person
Hearing Aid Program FlyerHearing Test CouponHearing Aid Program SummaryInstructions and Enrollment Form
What is the Medicare Part D Donut Hole?
What is the donut hole in Medicare Part D plans?
Financial Assistance + Financial Planning
To learn more about PASBF’s Finaincal Planning services, click here.
Fellowship Groups
Death Benefits
Virgin Pulse
Clergy Assistance Program
Questions?
Still need help?
Call SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program): 1-800-548-9034 OR go to their website: www.insurance.illinois.gov
They have sites in senior centers and other facilities throughout the state.
Attend one of our Medicare D counseling meetings.
Give us a call at 217-529-2308 and we’ll put you on the appointment schedule!