NY Budget gives more seniors break on prescription drug costs
By Teri Weaver on March 29, 2014 at 3:22 PM, updated March 29, 2014 at 3:29 PM
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- About 25,000 more seniors will receive help paying for prescription drugs under the final 2014-15 New York state budget, according to Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida.
The final budget deal -- struck by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders late Friday -- raises the income levels allowed to qualify for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage.
The budget would raise the eligibility thresholds from $35,000 to $75,000 for singles and from $50,000 to $100,000 for married couples. The new thresholds also excludes social security income from the income calculations.
Currently, the EPIC program assists more than 270,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 and older supplement their out of pocket Medicare Part D drug plan costs, according to Valesky's office.
