Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Starts November 15

At the end of each year, people on Medicare have important decisions to make about their prescription drug coverage for the next year.  From November 15 to December 31, you can enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if you are eligible for the benefit. And if you are already enrolled, you can switch to a different drug plan. You don’t need to do anything if you are satisfied with your current coverage. If you are on a limited income, you may qualify for extra help with your drug costs.

For free and unbiased help with the drug plan options or to find out about enrollment assistance events in your area, call the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 1-800-234-7119. You can also receive counseling over the phone by calling Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. If you’d like to compare prescription drug plans online and find one that best meets your needs, visit www.medicare.gov.

For many people on fixed incomes, the rising cost of medications is a heavy burden to bear. AARP now has a free online resource to help older Americans avoid falling into the  dreaded“ doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug program that leaves you on the hook for all of your own drug costs while still paying premiums.
 
The AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator at guides you through your prescription drug options using localized information about your plan and prescriptions to determine if or when you will fall into the coverage gap.  In about 15 minutes, you can view a graph of your out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for your conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to your doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions.

“Thirty-three percent of Nebraskans in Medicare fall into the gap each year,” said AARP State Director Connie Benjamin. “For the first time, people in Medicare have a simple way to learn if they’ll fall into the doughnut hole and find ways to avoid it by switching to safe, less expensive medications.”

In addition, you can offer to help friends or family members use the calculator to find out whether they are at risk of falling into the hole. For easy-to-follow instructions, download the Doughnut Hole Tool Kit.