Hello from Holly…
October 15–December 7 is Medicare Open Enrollment Season
October 15 through December 7 is the official Medicare Open Enrollment Season and your chance to make any changes you’d like to your policies. Now is the time to think about your options and make decisions to leave everything the same or make some changes. You can:
• Change from traditional Medicare to one of the Medicare Advantage programs, or vice versa
• Change your prescription drug policy
• Determine if you’re eligible for a Medicare Savings Plan
All of these are important pieces to analyze. Prescription drug plans are particularly important. Each year every insurance company can change the drugs they’ll cover, change the price they charge, and change drugs from one “tier” to another (tiers determine what amount they’ll pay of the total cost). So the policy that worked well for you last year might not work as well this year and could end up costing you more. You may also have added new prescriptions this year, and another plan may cover more of your new drugs or at a lower cost.
You can go to www.medicare.gov and do this all yourself. This website has lots of useful information. You can also call Medicare and ask a representative to help you through the process. SeniorsPlus can help you in this analysis as well, with our certified Medicare Specialists. This service is free of charge. If you live in a county other than Androscoggin, Franklin, or Oxford, you can call 1-877-353-3771 to find the Area Agency on Aging for your location.
SeniorsPlus will have one-on-one appointments for anyone needing assistance with their policy review in Lewiston, Norway, Farmington, Fryeburg, and Bethel. Please call our main office at 1-800-427-1241 to make your appointment.
When you come to your appointment, you will need to bring the information about your current plan, your Medicare card, and a list of all the prescriptions you take.
Mark your calendars now for this very important review of your health insurance. Let us know if we can be of help to you. Call us at 1-800-427-1241.
Holly Zielinski is the Chief Operating Officer for SeniorsPlus.