Medicare Open Enrollment Coming Soon

To be eligible for Medicare, one must be a legal permanent resident for the past five years or a U.S. citizen 65 years or older, or younger with a qualifying disability.

There are many different parts of Medicare insurance. Choosing a plan is an important and personal decision. Now is the time to think about what matters to you, and find the Medicare plan that meets your needs.

Open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7.

This is the time of year when Medicare participants can decide to stay with the plan they are currently on or change to a new plan for next year. Regardless if you have been happy with your current plan, it is always better to review available plans during open enrollment since drug formularies, preferred pharmacies, and your medications can change each year.

In addition to cost, coverage, and benefits, here are some points you may want to consider as you compare Medicare options during open enrollment:

Doctor and hospital choice

You want to be comfortable with the people you are working with, especially when it comes to something as important as your health. Will your doctors and hospitals accept your current coverage next year? If you are thinking about changing plans, make sure you check which doctors and hospitals you will be able to use. Where are they located, and what are their hours?

Pharmacy access

Is the pharmacy you use included in your drug plan's network? Remember that plan networks can change from year to year. If it is important to you to stay with the same pharmacy, it is worth checking to make sure they will still be in your plan's network.

Travel

Maybe you travel a lot, or spend part of the year in a different state. If you do, make sure you know whether your coverage will travel with you.

Every Medicare Part D Plan has a formulary that lists the drugs it covers, and many plans make their formularies available online. A plan's formulary may change at any time. You will receive notice from your plan when necessary.

"Open enrollment can be a very confusing process to patients, especially when they do not have much experience with insurance or they are unaware of how Medicare works. It is important for all Medicare patients to know and understand all of their options," Decatur County Memorial Hospital Pharmacist Matt Weber said.

Assistance

Weber will be available to meet with patients regarding their Medicare Part D plan on October 26, November 4, November 11, and November 23.

Those persons with questions or who would like to speak with him about their Medicare Part D plan may call the DCMH Pharmacy at 812-663-1250. this is a free service provided by the DCMH Pharmancy.

Information provided — Information provided

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