Important Changes Ahead for Medicare Annual Enrollment:

APPRISE Medicare Counselors are Ready to Help Beneficiaries Navigate the Confusion 

Lebanon, Pennsylvania – People with Medicare will see some significant changes to Medicare enrollment rules this fall.  If they miss the opportunity to make adjustments to their plans now, they will have to wait another year.

The following will change:

• Medicare’s Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP) will take place October 15-December 7, 2011.  Both Part D and Medicare Advantage plan members must make plan changes at this time.  
• Medicare’s Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP) will take place from January 1-February 15, 2012.  People with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will only be able to return to Original Medicare and join a stand-alone prescription drug (Part D) plan. 

APPRISE counselors will be available to assist people with assessing their Medicare coverage options this enrollment season.  The Lebanon County APPRISE Program is holding a Medicare Annual Enrollment Event at the Senior Center of Lebanon Valley by appointment only on Thursday, October 20, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Please call Lebanon County Area Agency on at 717-273-9262 to set up an appointment.

County Assistance Office and Veterans Service representatives will be attending our Event to answer any questions regarding their program.

Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging/APPRISE Program is a local affiliate of APPRISE, a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the designated State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in Pennsylvania.  SHIPs receive grant funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide direct, local assistance to Medicare beneficiaries through one-on-one, counseling sessions (both in-person and over the phone), presentations, and public education programs.  The national SHIP network includes over 1,300 local sponsoring organizations supporting over 12,000 counselors (mostly volunteers) and staff.  Last year, SHIPs served over 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.

APPRISE counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries:

• Review current coverage
• Check qualification for low-income programs
• Compare plans with all available options
• Search for specific plans online that meet specific prescription and medical needs
• Give easy-to-understand answers to questions about Medicare
• Help enroll in a plan online

“For over 10 years, Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging/APPRISE Program has helped thousands of beneficiaries understand their Medicare rights and options and navigate an increasingly complex health insurance marketplace.” said Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging’s Director, Michael G. Kristovensky, “Due to the tireless efforts of Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging/APPRISE Program’s dedicated staff and volunteers, beneficiaries have had a helping hand to guide them through the maze of choices.”

Beneficiaries may also use online tools available at www.medicare.gov (the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health coverage) to review options for 2012.  They can compare cost and coverage information on plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.

“Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging/APPRISE Program volunteers and staff serve our community with tremendous enthusiasm and purpose,” said Darlene Sampson, APPRISE Program Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Aging.  “Without their assistance, we would not be able to provide the services vital to the health and well-being of our community.”

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APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare.  Counselors are specially trained volunteers who can answer your questions and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, “Extra Help” Programs, PACE/PACENET.