AHIP Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Guide

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STEP 2: Find the Plan That's Best for You

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What to Do Next to Select a Specific Plan in Your Area

1. Determine if you are eligible for extra help in paying for your drugs. Go to our money saving tips page for specific steps to take.

2. Identify what plans are available in your area.

3. Decide which plan suits you best, based on the needs and preferences you identified in the worksheet in the previous section.

4. Enroll during the next enrollment period (also known as the annual election period): November 15–December 31. You are encouraged to sign up by early December in order to ensure that your transition to your new plan is as smooth as possible.

5. If you decide not to enroll in a plan that provides the Medicare prescription drug benefit this year:

	Generally, your next opportunity to enroll will be next year during the annual enrollment period from November 15–December 31.
	Just as with other types of insurance, if you do not enroll when you are first eligible and you do not have creditable coverage from a former employer for your prescription-drug coverage, your monthly premium will be higher in future years.

There are several ways to find out about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) and Medicare health plans available in your area.

Many of these resources can also help you enroll once you’ve made your decision.

Gather your 2010 edition of the Medicare & You handbook and the plan information that you have received. Review the Medicare drug plan options based on the priorities you have identified in this section. If you have questions, contact the Medicare drug plans that interest you most to get answers.

Once you have made your decision, contact the Medicare drug plan you have chosen and say you want to enroll.

If you do not have a copy of Medicare & You:

	Call 1(800) MEDICARE (1(800) 633-4227) and tell a customer service representative that you need one.
	Visit the Medicare web site at medicare.gov to get the book online. Click on the "Medicare & You 2010" option on the left.

Go to the Medicare web site, medicare.gov.

	Click on “Compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans” for Stand-alone Medicare Prescription drug plans or "Compare Health Plans and Medigap Policies in Your Area" for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, or Medicare Cost Plans.
	This web tool allows you to compare Medicare drug plans based on cost, coverage, and convenience. You can make choices based on your priorities.
	Follow the prompts on this site to find the Medicare drug plan that suits your needs.
	Also click on “MyMedicare.gov” to get personalized information about your Medicare benefits and services.
	When you're ready to enroll, have these items handy: Your red, white, and blue Medicare card Any other current health insurance card you have Your printed worksheet from the previous sections of this Guide.

Ask for help from a family member or friend, or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for personal help.
When you call your SHIP, you can talk with a counselor about your situation and needs. If you would like, the counselor can help you find out if you qualify for extra help in paying for your prescription drugs. The SHIP counselor can also help you choose and enroll in a prescription drug plan.

A list of the SHIPs by state can also be found at www.Medicare.gov/contacts/static/allstatecontacts.asp.

Call 1(800) MEDICARE (1(800) 633-4227).
This is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hotline. You can get information on Medicare 24 hours a day, including weekends.

	You can order Medicare publications.
	You can also discuss stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) Plan, and Medicare Cost Plan choices available in your community.

If you have retiree health care coverage that includes a prescription drug benefit — either from your own or your spouse’s former employment — talk with the employer about what to do next.