Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15

Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D, Prescription Drug Plan, is Monday, October 15 through Friday, December 7. It’s very important to review your drug plan every year because the private drug companies can change their premium cost and list of drugs that they cover. Look for the Plan Finder on the medicare.gov website.

For those that are not comfortable with a computer, please call the Phillips County Nurse at 654-2521 to set up an appointment with Suzanne Koss or Terry Lodmell. They are volunteer SHIP Counselors (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) and can show you plan comparisons that can aide in making the right decision for you. They work out of the Nurse’s office but only when an appointment is made, so plan ahead.

3 things to know

1. Your new card will automatically come to you. You don't need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, visit your My Social Security account.- Opens in a new tab

2. Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old Medicare card and start using your new card right away.

3. Your new Medicare Number is a unique combination of numbers and letters. Your new number uses numbers 0 thru 9. The letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z are never used.

Watch out for scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare Number and card.

Scam artists may try to get personal information (like your current Medicare Number) by contacting you about your new card.

If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don't share your personal information, hang up and call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).