FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 15, 2006
Contact: Sarana Schell, (907) 269-8041, Cell (907) 240-7462
Ross Soboleff, (907) 465-1611, Cell (907) 321-3838
Information session covers new Medicare options
AARP, Social Security Administration, Alaska Senior Information Office answer Medicare questions
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(Anchorage, Alaska) ─ Charmaine Ramos of AARP, Brian Johe of Social Security Administration and Essien Ukoidemabia, head of Alaska’s Senior Information Office, met with seniors and other stakeholders at the BP Energy Center today to discuss changes in Medicare Part D plans that help cover prescription drug expenses, and the Social Security and state programs that can help pay Part D plan costs.
Medicare, the national medical assistance program for seniors and people living with disabilities, is holding the first annual Part D prescription drug benefit open enrollment period from Nov.15 through Dec. 31, 2006. People may sign up, or change their plan if they already signed up during the initial enrollment period earlier this year.
Alaskans have many more Medicare Part D plans from which to choose: now 19 companies offer 45 plans, up from 11 companies offering 28 plans last year.
For help comparing options and enrolling, people should get a list of their medications and dosage from their pharmacists, or gather the medications they take regularly, and call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227). The line is open 24 hours a day, including weekends. For additional details, visit the federal Web site www.medicare.gov.
For information on programs that can help pay drug plan premiums or other costs, call the Senior Information Office, 1-800-478-6065, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.seniorcare.alaska.gov.
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Fact Sheet: Medicare and state prescription drug benefits (PDF 44KB)
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