Dear Friend,

Did you know Medicare open enrollment season ends December 7?

Many seniors aren't aware that they can change their Medicare plan each year to secure the coverage that's right for them. Below are links to several resources you may find helpful if you are considering changing your plan during open enrollment, including information on free Medicare beneficiary counseling, Medicare plans in our area, and how the Affordable Care Act (the Health Care Reform law) improves Medicare coverage.

• NC Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) – This NC Department of Insurance program offers free counseling to Medicare beneficiaries to help them make informed choices about their coverage. You can call SHIIP toll-free at 1-800-443-9354 or 919-807-6900 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Medicare Plan Finder – As part of the government's official Medicare website, this tool allows you to find Medicare plans available in your zip code.

• Seniors and the Affordable Care Act – This site serves as an online resource for information on the Affordable Care Act. As you may know, the health care law provides important benefits to seniors, such as free preventive services, free annual wellness visits, and a 50% discount on prescription drugs for recipients in the "donut hole." Earlier this year, AARP also compiled a helpful article ("11 Myths About Health Care Reform"), which dispelled persistent misinformation about how the Affordable Care Act impacts seniors.

As always, if you have a question or need help with constituent services, please do not hesitate to get in touch by calling my office or sending me an email.

Sincerely,

David Price

Member of Congress

P.S. Since election night, many people have contacted my office requesting tickets to the Presidential Inauguration in January. You can request tickets on my website here.