Around the middle of September, a new Medicare handbook will be mailed to everyone who is on Medicare.  This book contains lots of information that can answer many of your questions about Medicare; what’s new, what Medicare covers and your Medicare rights.

You will remember that the open enrollment for prescription drug plans begins Oct. 15 and ends December 7.  Sometime shortly before that you will receive information from your present plan telling you what the premium is changing to, what drugs will be covered during the coming year and what the deductible will be, if any. 

After Jan. 1 we always have a few folks come into our office saying that they did not know that their premium was going to be so high, or that a particular drug that they take will not be covered.  For many people, there is nothing we can do to help because the open enrollment has closed. So please watch your mail for any information from your drug plan because it could make a big difference in what you pay for medicine next year.

Once you check out what the new costs will be (as long as it’s before Dec.7) if you are not happy with what you learn be sure and contact us at the Southeast Missouri Area Agency for Aging at 1-800-392-8771.  We will be happy to help you see if there is a better plan.

Please also remember open enrollment when people are looking at new drug plans is a very good time for the scam artist to kick into high gear.  They may be calling you telling you they are from Medicare and need your personal information (They are not!) Medicare has all your personal information that they need.  They may tell you they are from your insurance plan asking for personal information. (They are not!)  Your insurance plan has all your personal information they need. 

Don’t give people who call or come to your door uninvited any information, period.  Let’s all band together to make it so hard for scam artists that they finally give up and have to go out and get a real job just like we have done all our life!