First of all, you shouldn't worry about your father losing his Medicaid benefits now that he receives both Medicare and Medicaid services. What's going to happen is that his health insurance will now work differently because he's become \dual eligible\' for Medicare and Medicaid. For him to get the best out of his two health insurance plans, he should make sure that his doctors and the hospitals he visits accept both so that he’ll end up paying the minimum cost for consultations and medical services received. Before receiving any form of Medicare and Medicaid services, he should keep in mind that Medicare will become his primary health insurance policy while Medicaid will kick in as his secondary policy. Dual eligible individuals are usually enrolled automatically into a Medicare Part D plan, so he might get his Part D plan card anytime. He should use this as his primary when he fills out his net prescription at the pharmacy. With regard to your father's insurance rates, his overall co-pays will not change, but the billing might change. Medicare is usually billed first and Medicaid takes care of what's left in the bill. If he's not enrolled automatically into a Part D plan, he'll have to sign up for one. Medicaid will pay for the premium or for most of the prescription costs depending on your father's income level. There are special rules on which Part D plans Medicaid allows, so he'll have to check with a local insurance agent which plan works best for seniors. Individuals who already receive Medicare and Medicaid services can opt to get any of the Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C). These plans usually provide additional benefit, and Medicaid usually pays for the premiums that these plans may have. - July 3, 2009 @ 12:58 pm'