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Free Medicare advice to be offered

The right Medicare plan can help save senior citizens thousands of dollars on medical costs, and this fall, the Durango/La Plata Senior Center is offering free advice to help navigate the program.

“They may be able to get better coverage and save money. If they don’t make changes during open enrollment, they may not have another chance until next October,” said Senior Center Director Sheila Casey.

Each year, seniors and disabled people can change their Medicare benefits from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. The changes to Medicare Advantage Plans and prescription drug benefits can impact insurance premiums and co-pays on medications in 2015.

For example, Buzz Roberts, a senior center client, will save about $7,000 next year on a single medication by enrolling in Medicare Part D.

His caregiver, Molly Smith, said they were both happy with the savings that they found out about on Tuesday at the center.

“We’re pretty impressed after only spending 45 minutes here,” said Smith, who works part-time with Shining Star Caregivers.

Roberts had not enrolled in the Part D program previously because he wasn’t taking any medications when he last signed up for Medicare benefits.

The senior center has eight trained counselors to help inform people with similar questions and expenses.

“What we found is when people can’t afford their medications, they end up taking it less often,” Casey said.

Last year, the senior center helped about 400 people with Medicare enrollment.

Casey encourages seniors to make an appointment as soon as possible because it gets particularly busy at the end of open enrollment in December.

The center’s Medicare counseling is part of the Colorado Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program, which is funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

To make an appointment, call La Plata County Senior Services at 382-6445.

Those with Medicare benefits can call (800) MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People who are deaf can call (877) 486-2048.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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