Amarillo, TX - There are some new changes coming to Medicare's Part D prescription drug plan.
Bravo, Community CRX and HealthNet are popular plans in our area, but they will soon be terminated and will force hundreds of residents to choose an alternative.
If not, they could either be assigned a new plan or end up with no coverage at all.
Premiums have increased for 2013, with the highest plan at $108 a month.
The Area Agency on Aging says with several new plans to choose from, finding one that meets your individual needs is key.
The agency is really pushing for more people to take advantage of the low income subsidy program.
If you qualify this could potentially help you save on prescriptions and medicare premiums.
Open enrollment for Medicare Part D begins October 15th and runs until December 7th.
The Area Agency on Aging will be holding several education and enrollment events:
-Friday Oct 19th 10:00am-2:00pm, Swisher Memorial Medical Center, Tulia, TX
-Thurs Oct 25th 10:00am-2:00pm, Farwell Care & Rehabilitation Center 305 5th Street, Farwell, TX
-Friday, Oct 26th 10:00am-2:00pm, Childress Medical Center, 901 U.S. 83, Childress, TX
-Mon, Oct 29th 10:00am-2:00pm, Hemphill Co. Library, 500 E. Main, Canadian, TX
-Wed, Oct 31st 10:00am-2:00pm, Hereford Senior Citizens 426 Ranger, Hereford, TX
-Wed, Nov 2nd 10:00am-2:00pm, Ochiltree General Hospital 3101 Garrett Dr., Perryton, TX
-Mon, Nov 5th 10:00am-2:00pm, Moore County Senior Center, Dumas, TX
-Thurs, Nov 15th 10:00am-2:00pm, Pampa Senior Citizens Center, 500 W. Frances, Pampa, TX
-Final Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Event, Friday, Nov 30th, 9:00am4:00pm, Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, 415 W. 8th, Amarillo, TX
To find out more call the Area Agency on Aging at 806-331-2227 or visit medicare.gov.
Medicare now covers more preventive services to help you stay healthy:
-Welcome to Medicare preventive visit (one time)
-Yearly "wellness" visit
-Abdominal misuse counseling
-Bone mass measurement
-Breast cancer screening (mammogram)
-Cardiovascular disease (behavioral therapy)
-Cardiovascular screenings
-Cervical and vaginal cancer screening
-Colorectal cancer screenings
-Fecal occult blood test
-Flexibility sigmoidoscopy
-Colonoscopy
-Barium enema
-Depression screening
-Diabetes screenings
-Diabetes self-management training
-Flu shots
-Glaucoma tests
-Hepatitis B shots
-HIV screening
-Medical nutrition therapy services
-Obesity screening and counseling
-Pneumococcal shot
-Prostate cancer screenings
-Sexually transmitted infections screening and counseling
-Tobacco use cessation counseling (counseling for people with no sign of tobacco-related disease)
