Program Description
The state of New Jersey offers two pharmaceutical assistance programs designed to help seniors with the cost of their prescription drugs. One’s income level determines if they are eligible for the Senior Gold program or the PAAD program.
The Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, or Senior Gold for short, helps low- to middle-income New Jersey seniors with the cost of their prescription drugs by paying 50% of their out-of-pocket costs.
The New Jersey Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program, or PAAD for short, is designed for those seniors with less income than the Senior Gold program. In addition to helping the elderly with the cost of their medications, PAAD provides assistance with monthly premiums for Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage through Medicare.
Both programs are designed to work collaboratively with a Medicare Part D plan. Therefore, enrollment in a Part D plan is a requirement. Part D serves as the primary payer and Senior Gold or PAAD as the secondary payer.
Did You Know? 1 in 5 U.S. seniors have skipped their medications or not filled prescriptions because of the cost of doing so.
Eligibility Guidelines
General Requirements
Senior Gold Program
To be eligible for Senior Gold in 2024, residents of New Jersey must:
- Be at least 65 years of age or a minimum of 18 years old and a recipient of Social Security disability benefits.
- Be enrolled in Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage).
PAAD Program
To be eligible for PAAD in 2024, residents of New Jersey must:
- Be at least 65 years of age or at least 18 years of age and receiving disability benefits from Social Security.
- Be enrolled in Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage).
- NOT be on Medicaid (also called NJ FamilyCare or Managed Long Term Services and Supports, MLTSS).
Financial Requirements
Senior Gold Program
Income Limits
The income limits for 2024 for the Senior Gold Program are as follows:
- Single applicants must have an annual income of between $52,142 and $62,142.
- Married seniors must have a combined annual income of between $59,209 and $69,209.
- Note that persons with income below these amounts should be eligible for PAAD.
PAAD Program
Income Limits
The following income limits for the PAAD Program apply for 2024:
- If single, seniors must have an income of less than $52,142 annually.
- If married, participants must have an income of less than $59,209 annually.
Benefits and Services
Senior Gold
After a $15 co-pay, the Senior Gold Program pays for 50% of the remaining cost of Senior Gold covered drugs. Once a single participant reaches $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs — $3,000 for married couples — Senior Gold participants only pay the $15 co-pay for the rest of the eligibility period.
PAAD
This program pays the monthly premium for certain standard basic Medicare Part D plans — plans must have a premium that is at or below the regional benchmark. PAAD also pays the cost of prescription medications, minus the $5 co-pay for covered generic drugs and $7 for covered brand name drugs. There are no further costs to participate beyond the co-payments.
How to Apply / Learn More
Seniors can apply for both Senior Gold and PAAD online by filling out the NJSave application.
To learn more, visit the Senior Gold webpage and the PAAD webpage, or call their toll free number at (800) 792-9745. Alternatively, one can visit their local NJ Area Agency on Aging to learn more.
The state of Illinois has two programs designed to provide financial assistance to the elderly to help them purchase their prescription drugs. Rx Basic is for individuals without Medicare insurance and the Rx Plus is designed for those on Medicare.
Rx Plus is known as a Medicare wraparound program which means the benefits wrap around those benefits provided by a Medicare Part D plan. When making a prescription purchase, Medicare Part D is the first payer and then this program contributes towards those costs the Part D plan does not cover.
