Fwd: CMS Release - Medicare Reminds Beneficiaries to Review Their Prescription Drug Coverage and Health Plan Needs for 2009

[Guest guest]

Department of Health & Human

Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Room 352-G

200 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20201

Office of Media Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

December 29,

2008

MEDICARE REMINDS BENEFICIARIES TO REVIEW THEIR

PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE AND HEALTH PLAN NEEDS FOR 2009

Annual Enrollment Period Ends December 31st

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today continued to

encourage Medicare beneficiaries to review their current prescription

drug and health care coverage before the annual enrollment period ends on

Dec. 31 to ensure they are in a plan that will best meet their needs in

2009. Beneficiaries who wish to enroll for the first time or change

their coverage for 2009 should do so as soon as possible to ensure a

smooth transition in the new year.

“Many beneficiaries will see changes in their current plans’ costs

and coverage for 2009, so it’s important that people with Medicare take

advantage of the enhanced tools CMS has provided to review the coverage

and costs of their health or drug plans for next year,” said Kerry Weems,

CMS acting administrator.

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period began on Nov. 15 and runs

through Dec. 31. In addition, for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans

only, beneficiaries can make one change in enrollment -- enrolling in a

new plan, changing plans or canceling a plan -- between Jan. 1 and March

31, 2009. However, the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period

cannot be used to start or stop Medicare drug coverage, or to enroll or

disenroll in a Medicare Medical Savings Account plan.

CMS encourages beneficiaries to use online tools available at

www.medicare.gov (the Medicare

Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health

coverage) to review coverage options for 2009. Beneficiaries can

compare cost and coverage information on prescription drug plans and MA

plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health

status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.

Beneficiaries without Web access can get the same information provided by

the online personalized plan comparison tools by calling

1-800-MEDICARE. The 2009 Medicare & You handbook,

mailed to beneficiaries in October, includes tips on selecting a plan and

an overview of plan options. Beneficiaries already enrolled in an

MA plan or prescription drug plan should have received an Annual Notice

of Change from their health or drug plan describing any changes in the

costs and benefits of their current drug plan from this year to next

year.

To take maximum advantage of the assistance available from Medicare,

beneficiaries and their family members should follow these tips before

calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-, TTY: 1-) during the

current open enrollment period for Medicare health and prescription drug

plans:

Write down in advance any questions you want to ask along with

information about your current health or prescription drug plan; Have your current medications in front of you; and Have your Medicare card

handy.

Medicare has more than 4,000 customer

service operators available in six toll-free call centers located across

the United States who are prepared to provide help in English and

Spanish.

“Beneficiaries should not wait any longer to review their drug coverage,”

said Weems. “CMS has worked hard to provide readily accessible

information for beneficiaries, their families and caregivers, and we

encourage everyone to use this information to achieve peace of mind

throughout the next year by making the coverage decision that will best

meet their needs.”

#######

[Guest guest]

Department of Health & Human

Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Room 352-G

200 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20201

Office of Media Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE

RELEASE

December 29,

2008

MEDICARE REMINDS BENEFICIARIES TO REVIEW THEIR

PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE AND HEALTH PLAN NEEDS FOR 2009

Annual Enrollment Period Ends December 31st

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today continued to

encourage Medicare beneficiaries to review their current prescription

drug and health care coverage before the annual enrollment period ends on

Dec. 31 to ensure they are in a plan that will best meet their needs in

2009. Beneficiaries who wish to enroll for the first time or change

their coverage for 2009 should do so as soon as possible to ensure a

smooth transition in the new year.

“Many beneficiaries will see changes in their current plans’ costs

and coverage for 2009, so it’s important that people with Medicare take

advantage of the enhanced tools CMS has provided to review the coverage

and costs of their health or drug plans for next year,” said Kerry Weems,

CMS acting administrator.

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period began on Nov. 15 and runs

through Dec. 31. In addition, for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans

only, beneficiaries can make one change in enrollment -- enrolling in a

new plan, changing plans or canceling a plan -- between Jan. 1 and March

31, 2009. However, the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period

cannot be used to start or stop Medicare drug coverage, or to enroll or

disenroll in a Medicare Medical Savings Account plan.

CMS encourages beneficiaries to use online tools available at

www.medicare.gov (the Medicare

Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health

coverage) to review coverage options for 2009. Beneficiaries can

compare cost and coverage information on prescription drug plans and MA

plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health

status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.

Beneficiaries without Web access can get the same information provided by

the online personalized plan comparison tools by calling

1-800-MEDICARE. The 2009 Medicare & You handbook,

mailed to beneficiaries in October, includes tips on selecting a plan and

an overview of plan options. Beneficiaries already enrolled in an

MA plan or prescription drug plan should have received an Annual Notice

of Change from their health or drug plan describing any changes in the

costs and benefits of their current drug plan from this year to next

year.

To take maximum advantage of the assistance available from Medicare,

beneficiaries and their family members should follow these tips before

calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-, TTY: 1-) during the

current open enrollment period for Medicare health and prescription drug

plans:

Write down in advance any questions you want to ask along with

information about your current health or prescription drug plan; Have your current medications in front of you; and Have your Medicare card

handy.

Medicare has more than 4,000 customer

service operators available in six toll-free call centers located across

the United States who are prepared to provide help in English and

Spanish.

“Beneficiaries should not wait any longer to review their drug coverage,”

said Weems. “CMS has worked hard to provide readily accessible

information for beneficiaries, their families and caregivers, and we

encourage everyone to use this information to achieve peace of mind

throughout the next year by making the coverage decision that will best

meet their needs.”

#######