Medicare assistance available through deadline

Date: 10/30/2012

SPRINGFIELD — Until the end of Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Period on Dec. 7, the Department of Elder Affairs and the SHINE Program will provide assistance to those on Medicare with choosing a new plan.

It is important that elders get the prescription coverage they can afford and that provides the correct amount of coverage.

"Plans change what they cover and their prices each year. This is the time to review your current plan and make decisions for next year," Alicia Germain, regional director for the SHINE Program, said. "We are also seeing many clients who need to change doctors or plans because their local health center isn't accepting their Medicare Supplement insurance any longer. We are here to facilitate that change for them."

The Department of Elder Affairs and the SHINE Program of Hampden County have free counseling appointments to review your Medicare Part D options.

There are appointments still available at the Good Life Center at 1600 East Columbus Ave. Appointments are required for counseling. To make an appointment, call the SHINE Program at 800-AGE-INFO or 750-2893.