Agency offers Medicare assistance
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Agency on Aging reminds Medicare beneficiaries that open enrollment, also known as the annual election period, will begin Oct. 15 and run through Dec. 7.
This is the time of year, said Tammy Delong, the agency’s Medicare specialist, when beneficiaries can make changes to existing coverage. Agency on Aging will offer a number of clinics at sites around Aroostook County during this period.
“If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, your plan should send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that lists any changes to your plan for 2017,” Delong said. “Read it carefully. These changes could be that the plan will charge a different monthly premium, cover different services, or change its formulary (the plan’s list of covered drugs). There are 38 different plans and you really should be checking to see if what you have will save you the most money in 2017.”
Beneficiaries should read the notice carefully to see if any of the changes affect them. “For instance, if your ANOC tells you that your Part D plan will have an annual deductible next year, you may want to choose a new Part D plan that does not have a deductible,” said Delong. “If you qualify for ‘Extra Help’ like the Medicare Buy-in benefit, and the plan you have requires you to pay part of the premium, there are plans available to you that you don’t have to pay for.”
She outlined some changes Medicare participants can make during the enrollment period, including: switching to a Medicare Advantage Plan (also called Part C), switching from an Advantage Plan back to original Medicare; switching from one Advantage Plan to a new one; joining a Part D prescription drug plan; switching from one Part D plan to another; or even doing nothing and staying with current coverage.
Any changes made will become effective Jan. 1, 2017. Enrollees may make as many changes as they like during open enrollment, but only the most recent change will be effective in January.
“Fall Open Enrollment is a time to consider all of your health care options and needs,” Delong said. “Even if you decide to not change how you receive your Medicare benefits, it is a good idea to review your coverage and any changes that the plan may put in place for 2017.”
Delong said appointments are being made for people who need face-to-face help and can come to the Presque Isle office or to one of the 14 clinics. Clinics will be offered on Oct. 18 in Houlton; Oct. 19 in Eagle Lake; Oct. 25 in Fort Kent; Oct. 27 in Madawaska; Nov. 2 in Mars Hill; Nov. 3 in St. Agatha; Nov. 9 in Grand Isle; Nov. 10 in Van Buren; Nov. 16 in Fort Kent; Nov. 17 in Madawaska; Nov. 22 in Houlton; Nov. 29 in St. Agatha; and Nov. 30 in Mars Hill.
For more information, or to set up an time at one of the clinics, call the Agency on Aging at 764-3396 or 1 (800) 439-1789.
For assistance or more information, participants can call 1 (800) MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan.
