Medicare plans may confuse applicants

In the midst of open enrollment for Medicare Part D, senior citizens and others who qualify may want a little help in understanding what plan to choose.

The East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging has been flooded with people interested in changing plans in light of increasing premiums, or those with questions about various plans, Leslea Rickabaugh, special projects coordinator with the agency, said.

Enrollment and re-enrollment for Medicare Part D drug coverage runs through Dec. 31, but Rickabaugh encouraged people to apply as soon as possible, preferably by Dec. 15, to ensure coverage is available without delays beginning Jan. 1.

The number of plans available in Kansas is about the same as last year, a news release from the Kansas Department on Aging said, but the coverage and rates of many plans have changed.

Premiums for Medicare Part D went up significantly for 2009, Rickabaugh said.

She said increases vary, but people who are receiving state assistance are seeing an average increase of about $3.60 per month.

However, those who don’t receive assistance for their plans are facing increases anywhere from $5 up to $30, she said.

Kathy Greenlee, Secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging, said people should review a variety of plans, even if they’re satisfied with their current ones.

“They might find that their current plan is changing in 2009, or there may be a different plan that better fits their needs,” she said in a news release.

Rickabaugh said local residents can fill out information about their prescription and other needs, which then will be entered into a program that will print out the top three plans that best meet their needs.

If a person still has questions, they then can call the agency at (785) 242-7200 to meet with Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas, or SHICK, representatives.

“We have a lot of people who really want to be told, ‘This is what you need to do,’” Rickabaugh said, adding that the SHICK organization offers unbiased information and can’t recommend specific plans. “But we try to steer them in the right direction.”

Residents also can do a search of the various plans through the Medicare Web site, www.medicare.gov , or receive free, unbiased help from volunteers with SHICK by calling (800) 860-5260.

Additional Medicare Part D enrollment assistance is available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, 10, 15, 22 and 29 at the Lawrence Senior Center, 745 Vermont St. Call Ashley Schemm at (785) 842-0543 for more information.