50+ Lifestyles

What Do Autumn and Medicare have in common? Each comes once a year.

By Peggy Dykes
Community Relations Director
Milestone’ Area Agency on Aging

Open enrollment for 2017 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans takes place from October 15 to December 7. This is an opportunity to review your current health status, compare Medicare plans and make adjustments based on your needs and your healthcare costs. It is also an opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of you. Here are some pointers on what you should and should not do.

You should always shop for a drug plan each year. Plans change more than the cost of their premiums; they also change the drugs they cover. You need to make sure you are getting the best price for your medication. You should also evaluate your overall health care costs and decide which is best for you, traditional Medicare or enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can compare your options online at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

If you feel more comfortable talking face-to-face, the Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers individualized help. Milestones Area Agency on Aging can put you in contact with your local SHIIP Counselor by calling 1-855-410-6222. This service is free and great benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

What you should NEVER do, is give out personal information over the phone, by email or in person to a stranger just because they are telling you Medicare is changing. All the information you need to know from Medicare comes to you in your Medicare and You Handbook every October. There are no “new” Medicare cards, there are no “new” drug cards, so hang up if you get one of these calls.
If you think you are a victim of a Medicare scam, you can call the Iowa Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-800-423-2449. There are also local SMP resources through Milestones that can assist you with individual concerns or provide informational presentations at places where seniors meet.

Peggy Dykes is Community Relations Director at Milestones Area Agncy on Aging. She can be reached at (563) 324-9085, ext. 212 or at pdykes@milestones aaa.org.