1. Use this link to view the Circuit Breaker & Illinois Cares Rx, Illinois Rx Buying Club, and I-Save Rx websites.

“Illinois Cares Rx” is the new name for the pharmaceutical assistance portion of the Circuit Breaker program. Circuit Breaker still has the benefits of a grant which gives some financial relief from property taxes, mobile home taxes, rent, or privately paid nursing home charges, and the purchase of vehicle license plates at a discounted cost.

People who do not want the pharmaceutical assistance or do not have Medicare will apply for Circuit Breaker as they always have in the past.

People who have Medicare and want the pharmaceutical assistance provided by Illinois Cares Rx will have a slightly different application procedure. The new procedure requires two steps.

1. Apply for Medicare’s Extra Help financial assistance through Social Security, even if you believe you don’t qualify.
2. Apply for Illinois Cares Rx.

These steps ensure that people who need pharmaceutical assistance receive all the benefits for which they qualify. For people on Medicare, Illinois Cares Rx serves as supplemental insurance to pay for most of the out-of-pocket costs which Medicare doesn’t pay, including the monthly premium, annual deductible, and most of the co-pay amounts.

To qualify for Circuit Breaker & Illinois Cares Rx, an individual must be age 65 or older before January 1 or reach age 65 during the year, or be a widow or widower who turned age 63 before the death of your spouse who was eligible, or be age 16 or older and disabled.

The applicant must live in Illinois at the time they apply. Also, the household income must be less than the amounts shown on this link. If your household income will be lower this year than last year, you may estimate this year’s income to determine your eligibility.

Current beneficiaries will receive correspondence explaining how to apply on the Internet or request a paper application. Current beneficiaries and first-time applicants are encouraged to file their application over the Internet. The Illinois website for applying and downloadable paper application is www.cbrx.il.gov.

1. Illinois Cares Rx, text of public law 94-0086.
2. Other Prescription Drug Assistance Programs - free and low cost drug programs.
3. For more information or assistance, call the Department on Aging at the Senior HelpLine at 1.800.252.8966, your local senior center, state legislative office, or use the link at the bottom of the page to contact us.
4. Use our Resource Guide on Aging to find agencies, by county, which provide other services.

For more information about these programs, call from the Illinois Senior HelpLine, your local senior center, or use the link at the bottom of the page to contact us.

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