Reply #1: It's a maze, that's for sure.

[pinto]

I was "late" in signing up for Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, but was able to access ADAP funding for my meds and was able to get Medicare to fast track approval as a medical necessity.

Took a lot of phone calls, some paperwork, support of an established HIV/Medicare/ADAP savvy pharmacy and local benefit counselors, but it worked before I had to shell out much of my limited cash funds.

MediCal (our Medicaid) took three months to pick up my Part D and Part A/B premiums, which is pretty standard lag time, but was eventually reimbursed by Medicare a month or so later for the difference.

All has since fallen into place, 'though some of it I'm still unclear on. I ended up with a different Part D provider than I had originally chosen, but there's been no out of pocket costs and *no* lapse in med supply.

Encourage you to call any and all HIV knowledgeable organizations in your area - Florida - and let them know your predicament. Sometimes people already versed in the system can get better results than your state or federal representatives.

Hang in there. Good luck.