This fall seniors can once again sign up for Medicare Part D, the new federal prescription drug program that started last January.
Starting Nov. 15, seniors can sign up for the federal drug program during the open enrollment period. This year, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging wants people to know they do not have to navigate the many plans that are offered on their own.
On Monday, Sept. 18, Dr. Charlotte Yeh, the head of the New England branch of Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, came to Scarborough to thank volunteers and staff at the Agency on Aging for their work and to help them gear up for the coming year.
Yeh is on the “My Health. My Medicare” tour of New England, visiting different places to help educate people on not only the drug program, but of everything else Medicare offers, including flu and pneumonia shots.
“These volunteers talked to people, one by one by one,” said Yeh. “If it weren’t for the work they did, people wouldn’t be taking advantage of all that Medicare has to offer.”
According to the Agency on Aging’s Director Larry Gross, last year they helped about 3,000 people sign up for Part D in a six-week period.
“People don’t have to do this alone,” said Gross, who encourages seniors and their families to call or come to the Agency. “There’s always confusion with any new program and there’s a lot of handholding, but in the end people are getting medication they couldn’t afford before.”
Gross and Yeh recommend that anyone eligible for Medicare start speaking with their doctors today to prepare for the fall sign up period, and if they have any questions to contact the Agency. There is also a Medicare help hotline, 1-800-Medicare and the Web site www.medicare.gov.
The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is located at 136 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, and the phone number is 396-6500.
From left are volunteers Fred Ronco and Stan Cohen, Southern Maine Agency on Aging Director Larry Gross, Dr. Charlotte Yeh and volunteers Charlene Thompson and Dick Hilton. On Monday Yeh stopped at the Agency in Scarborough during a tour to help educate about Medicare and to thank staff and volunteers at the Agency for their past work.Send questions/comments to the editors.
