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OTTUMWA, IA -- A recent study shows that millions of lower income senior citizens are missing out on claiming more than 20 billion dollars that would help cover the cost of health care and prescriptions.

More than 200 Wapello County senior citizens qualified for the extra help in 2010. However, they didn’t know they were eligible and did not collect.

“But there are still a lot who say I don’t have a plan or say they can’t afford the drugs. So we can help them look and see if the can qualify for the extra help which would make the drugs a lot cheaper for them,” says Colleen Reed from the Seneca Area Agency on Aging. 

You are eligible for the extra help if you make less than 1,900 dollars a month and have less than 26,000 dollars in resources including savings and retirement.

A lot of people aren’t aware of the money that is out there.

“Senior citizens have been putting into the system long enough. Now it’s time for them to get something back,” says Reed.

For more information, click here.