Open enrollment for Medicare plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will hold an open enrollment for Medicare prescription drug and health plans Dec. 10 at Bentonville High School.

• When Saturday, December 12, 2009, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Where Bentonville High School, Bentonville
• Cost Free
• Age limit All ages
• Categories Community

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will hold an open enrollment for Medicare prescription drug and health plans Dec. 12 at Bentonville High School.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the North Building’s e-Library. The high school is at 1801 S.E. J St.

Enrollment in these plans started Nov. 15 and will end Dec. 31.

CMS will join Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin, Bentonville High School’s Future Business Leaders of America and others to help people with Medicare take advantage of the annual open enrollment period, ensuring they have the best coverage to meet their health care needs in 2010, a CMS news release stated.

Others expected to attend the event include The Northwest Arkansas Area Agency on Aging, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, the Senior Medicare Patrol and the Social Security Administration.

Through Dec. 31, beneficiaries can go to www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to make changes in their Medicare coverage. Those in original Medicare who don’t have prescription drug coverage also can enroll in a drug plan during open enrollment. Since coverage varies, CMS recommends that people with Medicare use the open enrollment period to think about how their health may have changed, and what their needs will be for the coming year.

Beneficiaries with limited income and resources may qualify for extra help to pay for prescription drug costs. They may also apply for extra help through their local Social Security Administration office, by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov, or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

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