SHIP offers Medicare Enrollment help

Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 is the time for all Medicare Part D participants to evaluate their Part D plans for 2024. It is very important that every year Part D plans are reviewed and compared. Many plans change their benefits and costs. Not to mention, there are many times the prescriptions people take change.

Again, this year the Senior Health Insurance Program volunteers and Nebraska Extension in Southwest Nebraska have teamed up to provide free, unbiased counseling information and enrollment for people who are receiving Medicare.

New premiums and deductibles for the 2024 Prescription Drug plans have been released. There are 22 plans offered in Nebraska in 2024, with premiums ranging from $0.50 to $123.50 a month, and deductibles are from $0 to $545 a year. Many plans exempt certain tier levels from their deductible.

Each plan covers different prescriptions, so the cheapest premium isn't the best for every person. The only way to know for sure is to do a personalized comparison using the medicare.gov website's plan finder. Once the information is personalized then a decision can be made based on individual needs and wants. To complete a personalized comparison, a list of current medications — including dose and frequency — and a Medicare card are needed. The option of using your Medicare account for your personalized comparison is available and is recommended for the best personalized review. If you don't have a Medicare account, it is very simple to set one up on the website, medicare.gov.

It's important for everyone to take time to review and compare. Medicare and Nebraska SHIP provide free, unbiased counseling. To get one-on-one help from the Nebraska State Health Insurance Information Program, call the SHIP toll-free hotline at 1-800-234-7119 to make an appointment in your area. Go to Medicare. gov to compare your current coverage with all of the available options in your area and to enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change, or call 1-800-633-4227 to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For more information about other Nebraska Extension offices partnering with SHIP, contact your local extension office.