Local SHIIP office is publicizing Medicare changes

Several important changes for people on Medicare will start taking place this October.  Each of the changes relate to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

The most important change involves new dates for the Part D "Open Enrollment Period."  The new enrollment period will now run from October 15th through December 7th.  The enrollment period is the time when individuals can change Part D plans for 2012, enroll in a Part D plan or drop coverage.  Choices made during the open enrollment will go into effect January 1st of 2012.  This is a change from past years when the open enrollment was from November 15th through December 31th.

People whose prescriptions are covered by Medicare should have received a notice from their employer, union or other group health plans which tell Medicare eligible enrollees if their drug coverage will be "as good as or better than Medicare's coverage" in 2012.  The 2012 Medicare drug plans are now available on the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov.

Two other important changes are coming to Part D next year.  The "donut hole" or "coverage gap" will continue to close.  Once again you will pay 50 percent  for brand name drugs covered by the plan, but your cost for generic drugs will be reduced from 93 percent to 86 percent.  Each year these costs will drop until the donut hole is closed.

Currently, anyone in a nursing home on Medicaid and Medicare does not pay anything for drugs covered by their Part D plan.  In 2012, the same will be true for individuals who qualify for the Medicaid Elderly Waiver Program.

If you have questions about Medicare Part D contact the local SHIIP office at Winneshiek Medical Center at (563) 387-3036.