Published: November 20, 2008 09:45 am            

Choosing the right plan

Forum aims to inform seniors on prescription options

Local officials spoke to Athens senior citizens on Wednesday morning to explain the benefits of finding the right prescription plan.

A Medicare Prescription Drug Plan forum, hosted by U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling’s staff, was held at Oak Wood Place Assisted Living.

Speakers offered several resources to local senior citizens to simplify the process of changing their Part D plan.

The program’s “open season” runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, and allows individuals the opportunity to enroll or update their current plans, according to a press release from Hensarling’s office.

Melissa Scarborough, a representative for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the Medicare Prescription Drug Program Part D has different levels of prescription coverage.

She said the best way to find the right plan is by going to www.medicare.gov and filling out the Plan Finder. Scarborough said the form allows anyone to plug in the medications they are taking and see the best plans to fit their needs.

“You don’t have to choose from all those hundreds,” she said. “You can use that tool and it will list in order the plans that are best for you.”

Scarborough said the plans are listed by the amount of coverage and cost of the plan.

She said statistics predict 99 percent of Medicare enrollees will benefit from changing their plan.

Scarborough said senior citizens can also use local resources, like Area Agency on Aging of East Texas (AAA), to have the form filled out for them.

“There are a lot of different ways to get help,” Scarborough said. “You have local resources.”

Dovie Lawrence, benefits counselor for AAA, said to complete the form, the dosage and how often you take the medication must be provided. Scarborough said seniors should have their medicine bottles available to make sure everything is correct.

She said a senior citizen can call 1-800-MEDICARE to have the Plan Finder filled out or ask questions.

Trelisha Brown, managing attorney with the Health Law Project said the project provides free legal services to low income Texans who have questions regarding health care issues.

She said her office assists Texans who are having problems or questions about hospital charity care, qualifying for Medicare services, qualifying for Medicaid services, county sponsored indigent health care and qualifying for Children’s Health Insurance in Texas.

        

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