Pennsylvania Department of Aging Reminds Older Pennsylvanians that Medicare Annual Enrollment Ends December 7th

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne is reminding older Pennsylvanians today that Medicare's annual open enrollment period ends next week, on December 7^th.

"Whether you are looking into plans for yourself, or you are a family caregiver or friend ensuring that the Medicare coverage for a loved one provides the best health and prescription drug coverage, we encourage all Pennsylvanians to take advantage of this annual opportunity before the enrollment deadline," Secretary Osborne said. "Assistance with reviewing and comparing plans is available through trained APPRISE counselors who are available to walk you through the open enrollment process and make it less overwhelming."

A division within the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the APPRISE Program is part of the national State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), which provides free, in-depth, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. APPRISE counselors are trained volunteers who can answer questions about Medicare and assist older Pennsylvanians with selecting their Medicare coverage options. They provide objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance in order for older adults to compare plans and determine which one best meets their needs. Pennsylvania has over 670 trained APPRISE volunteers who provided 82,000 counseling hours this past year.

APPRISE counselors work through the local Area Agencies on Aging and will continue to hold Open Enrollment Events across the Commonwealth to provide guidance on the various Medicare health insurance and prescription drug plan coverage options available as beneficiaries plan for the coming year.   

To connect with or learn more about the APPRISE Program, call 1-800-783-7067 or visit www.aging.pa.gov.

Medicare beneficiaries can also complete their own plan comparisons by accessing the plan finder tool on the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan or call 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media Contact: Kirstin Snow, Aging, 717-787-3368

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Aging

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us