How does it work?

For those who qualify, Circuit Breaker provides:

• Tax Grants – If you pay property taxes or mobile home taxes on your home, or if you rent or live in a nursing, retirement, or shelter care home that was subject to property taxes, you may be able to receive a grant.



• License Plate Discount – A $75 discount on your license plate fee.



• Ride Free Transit Card – If you have a qualifying disability or are 65 years of age or older and meet the income eligibility requirements of the Circuit Breaker program, you may be eligible for free rides on all fixed-route regularly scheduled buses, trains and public transit systems.



• Prescription Drug Assistance –

  If you qualify for Illinois Cares Rx with the new income levels, beginning September 1, 2011, the amount you pay for each prescription you fill will change. For each 30-day supply you will pay $5 for generic drugs, $15 for preferred brand name drugs, $15 for specialty drugs, and $20 for non-preferred brand name drugs. If you have Medicare, after the total cost of your drugs (the amount you and the plan pay together) reaches $2,840, you will pay 25% of the cost of each prescription, plus the appropriate co-payments ($5, $15, or $20).

  If you do NOT have Medicare, after the total cost of your drugs reaches $1,750 you will pay 25% of the cost of each prescription plus the applicable co-payment. If you have Medicaid or the full Income Subsidy (also known as Extra Help) your co-payments will remain the same. If you are in a coordinating Medicare Part D plan, with or without a deductible, Illinois Cares Rx will continue to pay the premium and the deductible if there is one.
  
  If you currently receive the $25 rebate check instead of help paying for your prescription drugs, the $25 rebate check will be discontinued as of 9/01/11. Your August check, which will be sent in September, will be your last rebate check.

Income Limits

For Circuit Breaker property tax grant/ license plate discount and Ride Free Transit card, your total income in 2011 must be less than:

• $27,610 for a household of one;
• $36,635 for a household of two; or
• $45,657 for a household of three.

Income Limits and Requirements for Illinois Cares Rx:

You would qualify for Illinois Cares Rx if:

• You are filing an application for yourself only and your total income is less than $21,780; or
• You are filing an application for yourself and your spouse*, or yourself and one Qualified Additional Resident and your total income is less than $29,420; or
• You are filing an application for yourself and your spouse and a Qualified Additional Resident(s) and your total income is less than $37,060.

You would qualify for Illinois Cares Rx Plus if:

• You meet the income qualifications stated above; and
• You have Medicare; or
• You are 65 years of age or older without Medicare; and
• You are a U.S. citizen or qualified noncitizen.

You would qualify for Illinois Cares Rx Basic if:

• You meet the income qualifications stated above; and
• You do not have Medicare; and
• You are 16 years of age or older but under age 65 and totally disabled, or 65 years of age or older and you do not meet the requirements for Illinois Cares Rx Plus.

Illinois Cares Rx AIDS Drug Assistance

Illinois Cares Rx provides an additional coordinating benefit for individuals who have Medicare and a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.* For more information, see What Drugs Are Covered: HIV/AIDS.

The formulary is determined by Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which is operated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.