LEWISTON – Every year from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, Medicare recipients have the opportunity to change their choice of Medicare Part D plans for prescription assistance.

And every year the insurance companies offering those plans through Medicare have the right to change their plans.

Medicare Part D is still so new that there are lots of changes – a few plans disappearing, and more than a dozen new plans coming into the state. In addition, the drugs a particular plan covers and their cost may also change.

If enrollees are satisfied with their plan and have reviewed 2007 information from the company to be sure their drugs are still covered, they do not need to do anything to stay in the plan they have to get continuous coverage.

But if enrollees wish to review the new list of plans to be sure they are getting the best coverage possible, they should do another plan search, according to Leah Ustach, the Medicare D specialist for SeniorsPlus.

“On one sample plan search, the difference between last year’s best plan and this year’s best plan is $168. And that’s $168 cheaper for 2007 if the consumer chooses to do a new plan search and change plans,” she said.

“Medicare has provided an online tool known as the plan finder to help seniors compare all the plans and review important details such as whether their drug needs to have prior authorization from the company before they can fill their prescription,” she said. “The tool is easy to use if you are familiar with a computer. If not, many seniors have gotten assistance from a trusted family member or friend to do that for them.”

The plan finder is available at the Medicare Web site at www.medicare.gov. People can also get the same information over the phone by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

“Over the phone, Medicare will have a worker do the computer search and tell you the results. You should have your Medicare card and a complete list of all your prescription medications and their correct spelling ready when you call,” she said.

Enrollment can be done online, or by calling the plan or Medicare.

One thing people should be aware of, Ustach added, is that even though the open enrollment period lasts until Dec. 31, it will take a while for the paperwork to get through. The Center for Medicare Services has said that people wanting coverage by the first of January should be sure to make their change by Dec. 8.

SeniorsPlus will be answering questions and assisting people with plan searches and enrollment in Lewiston, Wilton and Norway. Telephone assistance is also available. For help, call SeniorsPlus at 1-800-427-1241 to schedule appointments in Lewiston and Norway; or 1-888-234-3921 to schedule appointments in Wilton.

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