Medicare Prescription Drug Deadline for Enrollment, Changes

Dec 30, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Tomorrow is the last day to enroll or make changes to Medicare prescription drug benefits. Mike Fierberg with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Denver office says it's important for everyone who is eligible to review their prescription drug plans and see if they need to make changes.

"Anyone who is involved in the Part D program, is interested in enrolling, possibly disenrolling or changing the plans that they're going to be taking part in in 2009, you have to make a decision by Wednesday night," Fierberg says. "Once you get past Wednesday night, you are locked in where you are, whether that means you have coverage with a certain plan or you have no coverage, for the rest of 2009."

While the program helps seniors get more affordable prescription drug benefits, Fierberg says not every plan is the same, and many have changed their benefits this year. Plan administrators were required to send a letter by October 31 notifying participants of any pending changes, but Fierberg says some of those letters could still be unopened.

"We know that people get that stuff and they may not read it very carefully, or set it aside and then lose it, or whatever," Fierberg says. "And if you don't have a copy of the changes in the plan you are enrolled in now, you should probably call the plan immediately and find out what those changes are."

Fierberg says the best way to determine whether a plan is still the most affordable is through a software program available at Medicare-dot-gov. Those without Internet service can call the Utah Seniors Health Insurance Information Program or the Medicare hotline, 1-800-MEDICARE, until midnight tomorrow.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW