The end of the year brings with it many beloved annual traditions. As the holiday season begins, it is also important to consider your health care and prescription drug needs for the coming year.
Nov. 15 marked the beginning of the open enrollment period for the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. The open enrollment period, which ends Dec. 31, gives seniors the chance to consider whether another plan might better help you cover the costs of your prescriptions in 2011.
I encourage you to re-evaluate your plan, especially if your prescription needs have changed in the past year. If your needs have not changed, it’s still important to check your plan to make sure that the reimbursement costs for prescriptions are still the most competitive, or even covered at all.
I am also happy to remind you that the heath care reform law enacted earlier this year provides for additional benefits for seniors. If you are a Medicare Part D participant, starting in January you will begin receiving 50% discounts on brand-name drugs and 7% discounts on generic drugs. As long as you are enrolled in a Part D plan, you don’t need to do anything to get these benefits.
Additional benefits of the health reform legislation kick in for seniors next year with the elimination of co-payments for preventive care services including:
- Screenings for bone density, diabetes and certain cancers
- Mammograms
- Colonoscopies
- Other preventive screenings
Possibly the biggest new benefit will be the free annual wellness visits for Medicare recipients, vital for the long-term health of seniors.
Again, you only have until December 31st to make changes to your Medicare Part D prescription drug program, so I urge you to take the time to consider which Part D plan is best for you. You can compare plans by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting www.medicare.gov
Florida residents can also contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE), at (800) 963-5337 or (850) 414-2060 or visit www.floridashine.org for more information.
I am proud to be an advocate for the seniors in my district, and my office is always open to you. Whether you have a question, a comment, or you are having trouble with a federal agency, my office is here for you. You can reach us in Pembroke Pines at 954-437-3936, in Aventura at 305-936-5724 and in Washington, DC at 202-225-7931.You can also find me on Facebook.
