Capps Announces Medicare Open Enrollment and Encourages Central Coast Seniors to Review their Plan

WASHINGTON – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) announced that Medicare open enrollment begins this Saturday, October 15th and runs through December 7th. This year open enrollment will start earlier and last longer, a full seven weeks, to give beneficiaries enough time to review and make changes to their coverage. The new open enrollment period will better ensure that individuals have their membership cards in hand and can receive uninterrupted health care coverage on January 1, 2012. 

Beneficiaries should have received their 2012 Medicare & You handbook, as well as a notice from their current plan that described any changes from the 2011 to 2012 plans by late September. The handbook can also be viewed here: http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

I encourage all Medicare beneficiaries – and their family members – to review their current health and drug plan coverage for any changes their plans may be making for 2012  during the open enrollment period.  Reviewing the plan will allow Central Coast seniors to ensure that their Medicare plan is best plan to meet their health care needs,” said Capps.

In addition, users of the Medicare Plan Finder, available at www.Medicare.gov, will be able to compare plans’ quality summary ratings from the previous year, identify which drugs may or may not be on a plan’s formulary or be restricted, and compare the cost ranges for plans available in their community. To make it easier for beneficiaries to choose high quality plans, users will find an icon that shows those plans that had a low overall quality rating the past three years and will also see a gold star icon for those plans that have a five-star rating for 2012.

Due to recently enacted changes in the program, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits are stronger than ever while beneficiaries continue to have access to a range of affordable products.  But each year plans change both in what they cost and what they cover. To find helpful Medicare tools and information, and compare the cost or benefits of 2012 Medicare health plans in your area, please visit: http://www.cms.gov/center/openenrollment.asp

In addition, one-on-one counseling assistance is available from the California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (1-800-434-0222).

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