Use this link to view the websites for the Circuit Breaker & Illinois Cares Rx, Illinois Rx Buying Club, and I-Save Rx.

The Circuit Breaker program provides tax grants and a license plate discount to residents in Illinois who qualify. The Illinois Cares Rx program provides prescription drug assistance for people who are enrolled in Medicare. The Illinois Cares Rx program will help pay for most of the prescription drug costs that Medicare does not.

There are two Illinois Cares Rx programs. Each provides different benefits and has different income eligibility guidelines.

The household income must be less than the amounts shown on this link. If your household income will be lower this year than last year, you may estimate this year's income to determine your eligibility.

To qualify for Circuit Breaker & Illinois Cares Rx, an individual must be age 65 or older before January 1 or reach age 65 during the year, or be a widow or widower who turned age 63 before the death of your spouse who was eligible, or be age 16 or older and disabled.

First time applicants must also apply for Medicare Extra Help. Medicare Extra Help applications are available at your local Social Security office or online at www.ssa.gov, under the Medicare link.

Current Illinois Cares Rx members do not have to reapply for "extra help" unless notified to do so by the Social Security Administration.

Applicants can apply by mail or on the Internet. The Internet online application is reviewed much faster and guides the applicant through the process. This often eliminates many of the common mistakes made with paper applications.

The Internet online application process will be available in mid-January. The web address is www.cbrx.il.gov.

Paper applications can be obtained starting in February. The website for applying and downloadable paper application is www.cbrx.il.gov.

1. Illinois Cares Rx, text of public law 94-0086.
2. Other Prescription Drug Assistance Programs - free and low cost drug programs.
3. For more information or assistance, call the Department on Aging at the Senior HelpLine at 1.800.252.8966, your local senior center, state legislative office, or use the link at the bottom of the page to Contact the Egyptian AAA.
4. Use our Resource Guide on Aging to find agencies, by county, which provide other services.

For more information about these programs, call from the Illinois Senior HelpLine, your local senior center, or use the link at the bottom of the page to Contact the Egyptian AAA.

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