Open enrollment for Medicare prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans

This is the time of year to review your Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plan) and compare it with other Prescription Drug plans to make sure you have the plan that best fits your needs.

The open enrollment period to change your Medicare Part D plan for 2015 started Oct. 15, and ends Dec. 7. You can find and compare prescription drug plans on the medicare.gov web site. Also beginning in 2015 there are a couple of new Medicare Advantage plans available for those living in Clearwater, Lewis, and Idaho Counties.

If you do not have a computer or need assistance navigating the medicare.gov web site, Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) are available on Thursday mornings and Fridays during the open enrollment period at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Orofino.

Please call 1-800-247-4422 to make an appointment. SHIBA is part of a nationwide organization of Medicare State Health Insurance Programs that supports and trains local counselors to help Medicare recipient’s access benefits and information about Medicare. All counseling sessions are free of charge.

Blue Cross of Idaho launches website explaining upcoming health insurance reforms

With the launch of the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange on the horizon, Blue Cross of Idaho developed GetCoveredIdaho.com to help all Idahoans get clear answers on Affordable Care Act requirements and reforms. The Affordable Care Act will impact families and individuals differently, and the new educational website includes a simple tool to calculate subsidy eligibility and other information to help families and individuals prepare for the October 1, 2013 open enrollment period.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealed that 42 percent of Americans are unaware that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, and another 20 percent think it was repealed or never passed.

“GetCoveredIdaho.com offers Idahoans clear and simple information about the coming changes in the health insurance industry and the Affordable Care Act,” said David Jeppesen, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing with Blue Cross of Idaho. “We want to provide a resource for our friends and neighbors, and help them find the information they need to prepare for the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange launch in October.”

Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, nearly all Americans are required to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Idaho’s new Health Insurance Exchange will offer individuals and families a way to obtain health insurance coverage. Some will be eligible for a federal health insurance subsidy to cover some or all of the monthly premium cost.

GetCoveredIdaho.com also provides free education resources for community organizations to share with their membership. Materials can be downloaded directly from the website, or hard copies may be ordered free of charge.

“Individuals and families can enter minimal information in the subsidy calculator and get an instant estimate of their monthly subsidy eligibility,” Jeppesen said. “We are excited to be a resource for our partners and community organizations across Idaho.”

Please visit GetCoveredIdaho.com to get answers, learn how you can pay less, and get prepared for the open enrollment period.