Area seniors offered advice on complex Medicare plans

The Attorney General's Office has some advice for Missouri seniors on Medicare, who soon will have the chance to make changes to their Medicare prescription drug coverage, according to a news release from the AG's office.

Enrollees subscribing to Medicare Part D will have the chance to switch drug plans during the annual open enrollment period from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.

Part D subscribers have the opportunity to shop around for a better plan.

Drug companies have the right to make changes to their plans, and seniors' needs often change, so a plan that worked well in 2008 might not be the best plan for 2009.

A number of government agencies and non-profit organizations can help match seniors with the plan that best suits their needs, based on where they live, the medicines they take and their monthly budget.

Officials caution, however, that unscrupulous sales people and even con artists may try to scam consumers out of their money.

In Saline County, seniors will have two opportunities in December to hear a presentation by Laura Miles, certified care manager, on Medicare Part D comparisons.

The first presentation will be at the Marshall Senior Center, 72 W. Morgan, on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m.

The second presentation will be at the Slater Senior Center, 123 No. Main, on Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.

Miles said seniors who have had problems with con artists or high-pressure sales tactics can take advantage of the services of Rona McNally, manager of The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol, District III Area Agency on Aging.

Contact McNally through Care Connection at 800-886-4699, or call your local senior center.

Reminders to seniors:

--There are 48 insurance plans authorized by Medicare to provide Part D coverage in Missouri.

The list of plans and providers is available in the "Medicare & You 2009" handbook mailed to you by Medicare. The list is also available at 1-800-MEDICARE and at www.medicare.gov. Make sure any provider you are considering is on that list.

--If you are on the Missouri No Call list, you should hang up on any telemarketing call offering Part D coverage. Solicitors are forbidden from calling Missourians on the No Call list, so you should be getting solicitations only by mail.

--Door-to-door solicitations are prohibited and should be recognized right away as a scam.

--There is no application fee to sign up for or change your coverage. Any solicitation asking for such a fee is a scam.

--Many con artists will use this opportunity to try to get your personal information and use it for identity theft.

Officials caution consumers never to give out Social Security, credit card or bank account numbers to anyone who has contacted them.

--Resist all high-pressure sales tactics. Sign paperwork to enroll in a plan only when you are comfortable with it.

Also, talk to as many people as you feel is necessary, which might include family members, friends, doctors and pharmacists.

Advice is available at no charge from your local Area Agency on Aging or the CLAIM program at 1-800-390-3330.

Consumers can inquire about complaints against a company or file their own complaint by visiting the Attorney General's Web site at ago.mo.gov or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.