Pick Your Plan: Medicare Open Enrollment

Apple picking. Pumpkin picking. Medicare Prescription Drug Plan picking? That’s right, because November 15 marks the beginning of Medicare’s Open Enrollment period. During Open Enrollment—November 15 through December 31, 2009—people with Medicare should carefully review their 2009 prescription drug coverage and pick the plan that they’d like to enroll in for 2010.

Every year during open enrollment Medicare gives people the opportunity to add, drop, or change their current prescription drug coverage.

Prescription drug coverage (Part D) is available, usually for a monthly premium, to anyone with Original Medicare (Part A: hospital coverage or Part B: doctor coverage) and it can help lower prescription costs. Some people get their prescription drug coverage as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). If you get drug coverage through a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, open enrollment is the time to review your coverage and change it if you so choose.

Because prescription drug plans can change each year, it’s important for everyone to review their current plan. For example, plan costs can change or a plan may eliminate or add drugs that it covers. Moreover, some plans are no longer offered from one year to the next. If your current plan is changing or will no longer be offered in 2010, you will be notified. So, watch the mail!

If someone with Medicare doesn’t enroll in a plan for 2010 during Open Enrollment, their 2009 plan will roll over. There’s a chance Medicare could auto-enroll someone in a plan if the individual has taken no action and his or her 2009 plan isn’t being offered in 2010. But, to be sure you’re getting the plan that is best for you, be proactive and compare plans.

Individuals should take a look at their own budget and prescription needs for the upcoming year to decide what plan best suits them.

There will be 48 Prescription Drug Plans, all with varying cost and coverage, offered to Massachusetts residents in 2010. Review the 2010 prescription drug plans (opens new window) on Medicare’s web site. Also, check out the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s Enrollment Center (opens new window) for more helpful information about open enrollment.

Need more help sorting through this information? Call MVES to speak with one of our SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) counselors. The SHINE program helps elders and individuals with disabilities understand their Medicare benefits and other health insurance options. SHINE counselors may also be able to help you apply for "Extra Help" if you’re struggling with your prescription costs. Call MVES’ SHINE program at 781-324-7705.