Medicare Part D Program Changes

The Ohio Department of Insurance is reaching out to area Seniors to let them know about Medicare Part D Program Updates.

Coordinator and Counselor Linda Bishop says seniors have been getting letters in the mail, notifying them about the changes, but she says it’s leaving many of them concerned about what kind of coverage they’re going to have, do they have to move to a new plan, and how do they go about moving to a new plan.

That’s why a session was held at the Muskingum County Center for Seniors this morning…to give people more information about the Medicare Part D Program Updates and to answer people’s questions.

"Just because a friend has a good plan doesn’t mean that plan will work for you. We basically need to find out for them their individual plan that will work best by medication. So, every plan is geared by your medication that you’re taking, " says Bishop.

Bishop says there’s 44 plans that have moved into this area, some advantage plans that have moved in, and some advantage plans that have moved out, and a reccuring question that many Seniors have, deals with the donut hole.

"If you’re taking very expensive medication, you can possibly fall in the donut hole as early as March and April. Therefore, you’re paying full cost of your medicines until you reach over $6,000 out of pocket, and that’s a real concern, " says Bishop.

Bishop says the start of the donut hole in 2010 is projected to be around 27 hundred dollars until a person reaches that six thousand dollar mark.

For more information about the Medicare Part D Program Updates, visit www.ohioinsurance.gov.