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State Error Sends 12,000 Medicare-Ineligibility Letters

LANSING (WWJ/AP) - About 12,000 people in Michigan received letters erroneously stating they would no longer receive state assistance to pay certain Medicare costs.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human services said in a statement Thursday a "technical system error" mistakenly listed thousands of seniors and people with disabilities as being ineligible for the assistance, prompting ineligibility letters.

Department Deputy Director Chris Priest says they're working to correct the error so people can receive benefits.

"We want to make sure that people who received the incorrect letter understand that they won't see a reduction in their Social Security checks because of this error," Priest said in a statement. "We apologize for the confusion caused by the system error."

The Social Security Administration will be sending corrected notices to Medicare recipients affected by the error. There is no need for these individuals to take any action. Anyone who has questions can contact their MDHHS caseworker.

The state helps people who meet the income requirement pay Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-pays. Spokesman Bob Wheaton says that cost would have amounted to about $150 a month for each of those 12,000 people who received the letter.

Wheaton says the federal government pays about two-thirds of that cost.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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