Cortland County Area Agency on Aging
Health Insurance Assistance
EPIC is the acronym for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage. EPIC is available to help eligible New Yorkers cope with the high cost of prescription drugs. EPIC is intended for seniors who don't already have adequate insurance coverage for prescription drug expenses.
EPIC is a cost-sharing plan. Coverage is not automatic. Persons must apply in order to be covered by EPIC. To be eligible, individuals must be age 60 or older and be a legal resident of New York State.
EPIC offers two plans. One plan has a fee schedule and the other a deductible schedule.
The Fee Plan applies to single seniors with annual incomes up to $20,000 and married seniors with combined annual incomes up to $26,000. The yearly fees range from $8 to $300, depending on the senior's income and marital status.
The Deductible Plan is designed to help seniors with higher incomes. Single seniors with incomes between $20,000 and $35,000 and married seniors with incomes between $26,000 and $50,000 are eligible. The deductibles range from $530 to $1,715 a year, depending on income and marital status. Once the deductible is met, the enrollee pays only the co-pay.
There are four co-pay amounts that range from $3 to $20 depending on the actual cost of the medicine.
Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) provides counseling and assistance to older individuals and their families regarding Medicare, Medicaid, Medi-Gap, Medicare Advantage Plans, Prescription Drug Programs, EPIC, and long term care insurance.
Services offered include:
- Information and education
- Policy review and comparison
- Client advocacy in problem and complaint resolution
- Assistance with claim tracking and submission
- Consumer protection assistance
- Appeals and hearings
- Assistance with eligibility and entitlement requirements.
Appointments are necessary, and may be made by contacting the Cortland County Area Agency on Aging at (607) 753-5060.
Back to Contact Information for Cortland County Area Agency on Aging
Other Programs Offered:
Family Caregivers Support Groups
Grandparents Support Group
Caregivers Resource Center
Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
Eye (I) Care Support Group for Visually Impaired
Cortland County Triad (Crime Prevention)
Worker Exchange Program
Make-a-Ramp Program
Handyman Service
Spring Cleanup Assistance
Tax Relief Programs
Health Insurance Assistance
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Weatherization Assistance
Rural Economic and Community Development (RECD) Grants/Loans
Legal Services for the Elderly
Information and Assistance
Senior Citizen Discount Program
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
Cortland County Nutrition Program
Cortland County Senior Centers
Meals on Wheels and other Homebound Services
Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly (EISEP)
Cortland Helping Hands Food Pantry
Truxton Food Pantry
Willet Food Pantry