The Last Minute is Now!

By Mary Loftis, Extension Assistant

If you’re on Medicare and you’re waiting for the last minute to decide whether or not to change you prescription drug plan, the last minute is NOW!

December 7^th is the final day to make any changes for your Medicare prescription or health plan. Unfortunately, if you need any help or have questions, it’s too late for help from me as I need most of those final days to wrap up details on individuals I have already assisted.

There are several ways to make sure you don’t pay too much for your prescription drugs. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). After a few automated button pushes you can get to an operator who will enter your prescriptions into the Medicare Plan Finder. They will then be able to help you decide which plan will save you the most money. They will ask for your Medicare number, but since you initiated the call to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) that should be a safe place to provide this personal information.

If you have a computer (or a child or grandchild who does) you can take care of this process yourself. Just go to the websitewww.medicare.gov and click on “Find Health and Drug Plans” and you’ll be on your way to comparing your prescriptions, selecting which drug store(s) you want to compare with and deciding which of the 23 Medicare prescription drug plans saves you the most money for 2016. If you’d like to try comparing on the Medicare.gov website but would like a little guidance, stop by the Nebraska Extension Office in Burt County for a Step by Step Medicare Comparison Help Sheet or email Sharon at our office atswimer2@unl.edu and we’ll send you a copy to help walk you through the process.

If all else fails, call the UNL Extension office in Burt County at 402-374-2929 and make an appointment for the final personal comparison sessions in Lyons on Monday, November 30 at the Lyons Library or in Tekamah on Tuesday, December 1 at the Chatt Center. Trained volunteers will be working that day to help compare plans that fit your needs and save you money.

Some people already have the least expensive plan for their needs, but unless you compare, you don’t know that for sure. Don’t give up your peace of mind unless you’ve compared and know your current plan will still be the best value next year.

The Medicare Last Minute is NOW…don’t miss this once a year chance to make sure your Medicare prescription or health plan is the best choice for you.