What will you find during Medicare open enrollment? October 15 – December 7

What will you find during Medicare open enrollment?

October 15 – December 7

Your health needs change from year to year. And, your health plan may change the benefits and costs each year too. That’s why it’s important to review your Medicare choices each fall. Compare your current plan to new options and see if you can lower some costs or to find a plan that better suit your needs. Open Enrollment is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage.

Whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have now:

• Certain preventive benefits – including cancer screenings – are available at no cost to you when provided by qualified and participating health professionals. The annual wellness visit lets you sit down with your doctor and discuss your health care needs ‘and the best ways to stay healthy.
• Medicare will notify you about plan performance and use its online Plan Finder to encourage enrollment in quality plans.
• In 2015, if you reach the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, you’ll get a 55 percent discount on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs.

It’s worth it to take the time to review and compare, but you don’t have to do it alone. Medicare is available to help.

• Visit Medicare. gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.
• Call I-8OO-MEDI-CARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should callI-877-4S6-204S.
• Review the Medicare & You 2015 handbook. It’s mailed to people with Medicare in September.
• If you have limited in-come and resources, you may be able to get Extra Help paying your prescription drug cover-age costs. For more information, visit socialsecurity.gov/il020or call Social Security at I-800-772-1213. TTY users should callI-8OO-325-077S.
• Get one-on-one help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit Medicare.gov/contacts or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get the phone number.