AARP reminds Texas County residents that open enrollment in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will begin Saturday, Nov. 15.
If enrolled, Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to evaluate their current plan, and if necessary, switch to a different plan.
Open enrollment runs through Dec. 31, with coverage starting Jan. 1. People are urged to make their decisions early in December to allow for the timely processing of their applications.
Several tools that are available to the public are as follows:
1. Medicare has released a press release reminding Medicare beneficiaries to review and compare their drug coverage plans during open enrollment. The press release is not only a good source of information about what’s new for 2009, it also provides links to the list of national stand-alone prescription drug plans and state specific fact sheets, as well as a link to the 2009 “Landscape Data” (data on each drug plan). Visit www.medicare.gov for more information.
2. Bulletin Today (online) _ www.aarp.org/bulletin – The AARP Bulletin Today (online) has launched a special guide Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. It is designed to help people learn more about comparing plans during open enrollment and to understand all the options available for prescription drug coverage through Medicare. Visit www.aarp.org/bulletin, and click on “Your Health,” then click on “Medicare.”
3. Another Great Bulletin Tool _ “Ms. Medicare” (Pat Barry) resource through the online Bulletin Today. The Ask Ms. Medicare column features questions from people about Medicare with answers from Pat Barry. If the answer is not among the many featured Q&As, the reader can e-mail Ms. Medicare directly to ask a question – msmed@aarp.org. Visit www.aarp.org/bulletin and search for “Ask Ms. Medicare.”