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Help by phone and the Web

The following are resources to help you navigate the changes to Medicare.

Medicare: The people who answer 1-800-MEDICARE 633-4227 can give you a list of the three cheapest plans based on your medications. Or you can research that directly at www.medicare.gov

SHINE: program can give one-on-one advice if you call toll-free 1-800-963-5337. Expect to leave a message, but a SHINE volunteer will call you back.
Social Security: If you think you could qualify for a low-income subsidy, contact the Social Security administration for an application. Call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213; or visit www.ssa.gov

Several Web sites have interactive calculators where people can estimate how much they might save by joining one of the new Medicare prescription drug plans.

- Medicare:www.medicare.gov/

- Kaiser Family Foundation: www.kff.org/medicare/rxdrugscalculator.cfm

- Families USA: http://www.familiesusa.org/issues/medicare/rx-drugs/medicare-calculator.html

- Medicare Today: http://webstudies.lewin.com/pdb/medicare2.htm

- Access to Benefits:http://www.accesstobenefits.org and click on BenefitsCheckUpRx.