WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) reminded seniors of Medicare’s open enrollment season and encouraged those with Medicare to review drug and health plan coverage options for 2013. From October 15 through December 7, 2012, Medicare beneficiaries can review and change their coverage to find the plan that will work best for them. Medicare beneficiaries will need to make their benefit elections by December 7.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, benefits for the 150,000 Medicare enrollees in Delaware included lower prescription drug costs through a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the coverage gap – or “doughnut hole” – as well as wellness checkups and access to certain preventive care with no copayments, a benefit that all Medicare Advantage plans began offering in 2012. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries have been able to get free preventive screenings for heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and other chronic conditions. In 2011 alone, over 20 million Medicare beneficiaries received an annual wellness checkup or received other preventive services with no deductible or cost sharing.

“Delawareans – and especially Delaware’s seniors – continue to see many benefits of the comprehensive health care reform legislation enacted in 2010,” said Sen. Carper. “Now through December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can review and change their coverage to find the plan that will work best for them in 2013. The Medicare open enrollment season is always an important time of year for Delaware seniors to make sure they are getting the best benefits Medicare has to offer.” 

Beneficiaries should review the 2013 Medicare & You handbook before making benefit elections. It is accessible online at http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf.

To protect against Medicare fraud and identity theft during the Open Enrollment Period, beneficiaries should treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. People with Medicare should never give their personal information to anyone arriving at their home uninvited or making unsolicited phone calls selling Medicare-related products or services. Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.