The annual election period for Medicare Part D opens Oct. 15 and runs to Dec. 7. Medicare recipients can either change plans for 2015 or enroll in a plan if a deadline was missed for enrolling earlier.
“Doing a Medicare Part D check-up is just as important as a yearly checkup with your doctor. Plans can change from year to year, so don’t assume the plan you’re happy with this year will necessarily be the best one for you in 2015,” a Greene County Medical Center spokesperson said.
Last fall, approximately 80 percent of people who compared plans with the help of the state of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) saved money by changing plans for the next year.
Counselors from SHIIP, based at the medical center, are available every Tuesday morning and are ready to help seniors do a Part D check-up. They have information about Medicare prescription drug plans for 2015 and are available to answer any questions, help compare plans and assist with enrollment in a plan.
Seniors are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to explore options – the last two weeks before Dec. 7 will be busy for the plans, Medicare and SHIIP. Call 515-386-2114 to schedule an appointment with a SHIIP counselor at Greene County Medical Center.
