Medicare: Making Changes in Your Coverage

It's open enrollment time again. Have you reviewed your Medicare plan and made any wanted changes to your insurance or drug plans? You have a few more weeks to get this done before the deadline on Dec. 31, 2009.

Even if you've been happy with your coverage this past year, it's still a good idea to review what you have because the costs could change. Did you receive your 2010 Annual Notice of Changes? Providers are required to send it to you once a year. The information includes what you can expect for co-pays and insurance next year, as well as the costs and any changes in coverage. It's also possible that your specific drug plan might not be offered next year. If that happens you'll be shunted off to another plan -- one you might not want.

Reviewing your Medigap coverage (the policy that covers what the basic Medicare doesn't) could well be your most important step. By law, all Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies must adhere to state and federal guidelines, but the costs can vary.

If you need help (especially in sorting out the 12 Medigap policies A thru L), you can reach the helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Representatives will assist you with questions about Medicare Part A (hospitalization) and Part B (medical insurance), too. They'll be able to go over your health care choices with you, and answers questions about your rights and patient appeals and complaints.

If you have a computer with access to the Internet (or can use the ones at the library), go to www.medicare.gov for links to a great deal of information.

Right on the front screen you can find links to compare health and drug plans, find drug-plan coverage in your area, and learn ways to lower your drug costs. For Medigap information, click on Compare Health Plans.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com.

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.