Change coming to Medicare Part D enrollment for 2012

Important changes for people on Medicare will start taking place in October in relation to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

Most important are the new dates for the Part D open enrollment period, which will be Oct. 15-Dec. 7. During this period individuals can change Part D plans for 2012, enroll in a Part D plan or drop coverage. Choices made during the open enrollment will go into effect Jan. 1, 2012.

?This is a change from past years when the open enrollment was Nov. 15-Dec. 31,? said Kris Gross of Iowa?s Senior Health Insurance Information Program. ?We?re asking everyone to remind family, friends and neighbors that the dates for changing have moved up a month. We don?t want anyone to miss the opportunity to make their choice of plans for 2012.?

The 2012 Medicare drug plans will be available on the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov, on Oct. 1. Seniors planning not to renew their contracts with Medicare for 2012 must notify their members by Oct. 2.

Another important change to know is that the ?donut hole? will continue to close. Once again seniors will pay 50 percent for brand name drugs covered by the plan, but the cost for generic drugs will be reduced from 93 percent to 86 percent. Each year these costs will drop until the donut hole is closed.

Call Seneca Area Agency on Aging at (641) 682-2270 or (800) 642-6522 to make an appointment to have a Medicare Part D comparison done during open enrollment.