If you are one of the estimated 64,000 Missourians who lost Missouri Rx coverage in July, you may want to consider applying for governmental assistance to pay for food and other expenses.

Care Connection for Aging Services is offering free “Benefits Checkups” to older adults who may need to re-evaluate their qualifications for various benefits plans, said Marilyn Gunter, Director of Care Management.

In July, the Missouri Rx prescription drug assistance program expired for lower-income people on Medicare only. To get Missouri Rx, seniors need to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. An estimated 64,000 Missourians lost the benefit of the program that paid for half of their deductibles, copays and coverage gap expenses for prescription medications.

Those increased out-of-pocket costs for medications may have made these seniors eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps.

That’s because seniors are allowed to deduct the costs of their medications and some other day-to day living expenses when determining whether they qualify for a SNAP benefit, Gunter said.

If you would like to see which benefits may be right for you, please call 1-800-748-7826 to speak with Gunter or Benefits Counselor Penny Humphrey. Also, Care Connection care managers can offer in-person Benefits Checkups in senior centers in all 13 area counties by appointment.

The Benefits Checkup of the National Council on Aging is a free, personalized service. More than 2,000 federal, state and private benefits programs are available, but many people don’t know these programs exist.

Seniors need to know household expenses and income information for screenings and Social Security numbers if they make an application.

Care Connection for Aging Services, a non-profit area agency on aging serving West Central Missouri, operates 23 locations in 13 counties, including Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon. Its mission is to provide resources and services that empower people to create healthy aging experiences. For more information, call 1-800-748-7826 or email us at information@goaging.org.