U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration for another 90 days effective October 13, 2022, setting the expiration date to January 11, 2023.HHS initially declared the Corona Virus a public health emergency on January 31, 2020. It has been extended since that time.For more information go to [...]

Medicare’s annual election period runs from October 15-Dcember 7.This is an important time to review Medicare coverage for the following year.BPLC has prepared listings of Medicare Part D plans that work with Original Medicare in New York State, as well as Medicare Advantage plans that include all Part A and Part B benefits, and most also [...]

New Income Guidelines and Increase in Benefit AmountsClick here for a full chart of the updated income guidelines for the SNAP program in NYS effective October 1, 2022. In addition, the maximum SNAP benefit amount, the shelter cap, as well as the homeless deduction have increased, see these changes on our SNAP Budget Worksheet. Our free [...]

Individuals with Medicare Part D drug coverage who take insulin that is on their plan’s formulary will have their co-pays capped at $35 per insulin per month. The $35/month cost is not subject to the plan’s annual deductible (if the plan has one), meaning that one can benefit from the $35 copay before meeting any deductible. [...]