By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Medicare prescription drug coverage, otherwise known as Medicare Part D is an optional benefit offered to everyone who has Medicare. The open enrollment period is coming up between October 15 and December 7.
"We go on to medicare.gov," said SHICK counselor Denise Pina. "We request that they have a list of their prescriptions with the dosage and the quantity. Once we have that information put in, we ask for a pharmacy. Once we have the pharmacies put in to do a comparison, Medicare chooses what's best for the lowest premium and the lowest cost for the drug."
If your medications have changed, that's the time to look again at your plan. It's also possible there have been business changes that are worth a second look.
"Some of the insurance companies, they switch hands," Pina said. "Sometimes their premiums go up, sometimes their premiums go down, we suggest that people take a look at that."
You can submit the form to be looked at already, but you won't get a response until the window to change opens in mid-October. If you have any questions, call the Reno County Department of Aging at 620-694-2911.