Open enrollment for Medicare Part D starts Monday
October 13, 2018
By: Mark Harvey
Email: harvemb@dshs.wa.gov
As is often the case in Western Washington, the whole is equal to the sum of its parts; in this case, the “whole” of Medicare is equal to Part A + Part B + Part C + Part D (well, OK, + supplement plans and a few other entertaining nuances, but let’s focus on the main “parts”).
For today, let’s focus on the part that we call Part “D,” which we can decide stands for “drug;” specifically, prescription drugs.
Many of us know that Monday is October 15th. One of the reasons we know this is because October 15th is always the opening day of Part D “open enrollment” (Yes, it is called a few other things, but most of us say “open enrollment”). “Open enrollment” will continue through December 7th, which is Pearl Harbor Day – The symbolism is obvious.
While many of us know this all too well, some Medicare newbies might be easily distracted by trivialities like Halloween, Thanksgiving, mid-term elections (the symbolism is obvious), so let’s walk through this again, and give you some info on available help, if help is desired.
Part D plans cover (more or less) our prescription drug costs under Medicare. They are independent plans (meaning, they are owned and administered by insurance companies), that we pay a premium for. Every year, between October 15 and December 7, we have an opportunity to switch to a different Part D plan, if we want to. Why would we want to?
We’re bored? No, that’s silly – No one has ever been that bored! We might want to because (a) premium costs can change, and (b) formularies change. “Formularies” are the lists of drugs that any particular plan covers, so you want to be sure that the plan you have covers the drugs you’re taking; otherwise…Oops! And that’s that for THAT, until October 15, 2019.
Do you have to change Part D plans? No. If you’re perfectly content with the plan you have, and you actually read the stuff they send you and you feel confident that said plan’s formulary will continue to cover what you need to have covered, then…VOILA! Forget this whole thing and go back to working on your Halloween costume.
If you’re not so sure of all of that, and worry about things like premiums and formularies, you might want to do a little “shopping;” so, how does one go “shopping?”
One goes to Medicare.gov/find-a-plan or just Medicare.gov and hit the “Drug Coverage” (Part D) tab at the top, and off you go. You’re going to want to have a list of the prescription drugs and dosages that you’re currently taking, the names of any pharmacies you prefer to use, your Medicare card, your ZIP code and a friendly beverage. You can do this.
You’ll be able to compare plans relatively easily and make whatever choice you want to make; remember, it’s entirely possible that you could end up sticking with your current plan. If that’s the case, just do nothing and your current Part D coverage will roll into 2019, unchanged.
Now, some of us never got past the “One goes to Medicare.gov/find-a-plan…” part for any number of very good reasons, and have wisely concluded: “I NEED HELP!” I don’t blame you, and there are a number of ways for you to get that help – For free.
You can always call any of the numbers listed at the end of this column, and decent people will help you, either over the phone or arrange for in-person assistance. If you happen to reside in Grays Harbor County, here are some additional options for face-to-face, 1:1 help. Just pack up everything I mentioned above (with the possible exception of your “friendly beverage”) and show up at:
- The North Beach Resource Center, 557 Point Brown Avenue SW in Ocean Shores, any Thursday between 10:00-2:00;
- The Hoquiam Senior Center, 707 Simpson Avenue in Hoquiam, on the fourth Thursday, between 10:30-1:00;
- The Aberdeen Senior Center, 208 W. Market Street, on the fourth Tuesday, between 11:30-1:00;
- The Elma Senior Center, 100 W. Main Street, on the third Thursday, between 9:00-1:30;
- The Oakville congregate nutrition site, which is in the Oakville United Methodist Church at 204 E. Harris Avenue, on the first Thursday, between 11:30-1:00…
- …and the Westport Senior House, 114 W. Pacific Avenue, on the fourth Wednesday, between 11:30-1:00.
That’s it. It’s free. No one will try to sell you anything because we don’t have anything to sell.
Please remember that these are “first come, first served” events, so be prepared to be patient, and be prepared to be helped, by smart, decent people.
PLEASE don’t wait until December 6th to do this, if you’re going to do it!
And please remember that the people helping you did NOT invent Medicare Part D! If they had, it would be a lot simpler than this!
You can do this.
Mark Harvey is the director of Information and Assistance for Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He can be reached at harvemb@dshs.wa.gov or 532-0520 in Aberdeen, (360) 942-2177 in Raymond or (360) 642-3634. FACEBOOK: Olympic Area Agency on Aging-Information & Assistance.