Department of Human Services

 Q:  I'm hearing about Medicare's open Enrollment Period again.  But I'm already enrolled.  Do I have to do anything or worry about this?

A:  Your don't have to do anything, but it could be well worth it to check into your choices, because you may find a different Medicare Health and/or Prescription Drug plan with better coverage for your needs, higher quality, and lower cost.  Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, that Medicare is stronger that ever.  You may find better choices than you had last year, with lower costs.  You'll also get better information, as Medicare will show you which plans have the best performance.  

Best of all, average monthly premiums next year for both stand-alone prescription drug coverage, and Medicare health plans, will be stable.  Your current plan must send out information about their 2013 premiums and coverage, which you should read carefully.  If your health or drug needs have changed over the past year- or if your current plan is raising premiums, or other out of pocket costs, it's usually worth the time to consider other plans.  There may be a more cost-effective option.  If not, and you're satisfied with your current plan, you can decide to do nothing and your enrollment in the current plan won't change in 2013.  If you do enroll in a new Medicare Health and/or Prescription Drug plan during Open Enrollment this Fall, your new plan will be effective January 1, 2013.

Q:  Where can I get help with making the right Medicare Health and/or Drug Plan Choice for 2013, as I think I need some help in doing all of this.

A:  Medicare, and our partners are here to help!  You, a relative, or someone you trust can go on the internet, at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare the coverage you have now with all of the 2013 options available in your area.  All the information you need, including plan quality ratings, will be posted by October 11th.  If you want to make a change, you can do that online, too, starting October 15th.

If you would feel more comfortable having a trained Medicare specialist help you, you can also get on-on-one help from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in your state.  They offer free unbiased counseling and assistance as they are a grantee program of the Medicare agency.  They can help you, in person by appointment, or over the phone, compare plans , and even enroll you into a new one between October 15 and December 7.  The number to reach this program is printed on the back page of your Medicare & You handbook.  If you can't find the handbook, just call 1-800-MEDICARE, 1-800-633-4227, to get the phone number of the SHIP program in your state.

Or, a customer service representative at 1-800-MEDICARE (that's 1-800-633-4227), can assist you with comparing plans over the phone, 24 hours every day.  Our trained Medicare representatives can help you find out more about your coverage options.  TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.

you can also find the latest information about the plans available in your area in the Medicare & You 2013 handbook, which is mailed to people with Medicare in late September and lists plans to choose from near the back.