Medicare participants have until Dec. 7 to enroll in or change their Medicare drug plans for 2019.
Don’t wait until the last minute.
The two weeks prior to Dec. 7 will be very busy for the plan’s 1-800-MEDICARE service and organizations like the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), which help individuals compare plans and assist with enrollment.
Do not delay your enrollment.
Medicare participants also have the option of self-enrolling or getting a family member to help them enroll online at www.medicare.gov.
Participants should be sure to print and keep a copy of the confirmation if they enroll online. If they enroll in person with an agent, they should keep a copy of the signed — by the enrollee and the agent – and dated enrollment form.
If participants enroll by telephone with 1-800-Medicare or a plan, they should request a confirmation number and the name of the person enrolling them, and they should also note the date and time they enrolled.
The next opportunity to enroll or change plans for most people will be Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2019.
Remember, if you’re on Medicare and don’t have drug coverage or if the coverage you have is not as good as Medicare’s, then you will face a penalty for each month you delay your enrollment.
For more information about Medicare drug coverage, call your local SHIIP counselor Lou Hoger, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program volunteer at the Dallas County Hospital, at 515-465-7578.
Macinzie McFarland is the community relations and marketing manager at the Dallas County Hospital.
