Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their prescription and health plans once a year. These changes could result in savings on medical costs, or increased access to new benefits such as wellness visits and preventive care services.

Changes to Medicare health plans can only be made between October 15 and December 7, 2011. They will take effect on January 1, 2012.

Saving Money Is Just One of the Benefits

The open enrollment period is available for people who receive health coverage directly from Medicare as well as those who receive coverage from private insurance companies approved by Medicare. In other words:

• Members who receive benefits directly from Medicare can switch to a Medicare-approved private insurance company or the other way around
• Members can switch from one Medicare-approved private insurance company to another.

Changing plans may mean more savings on out-of-pocket costs, as well as prescription drugs. Beneficiaries may also be able to choose or change their doctor or pharmacy.

It’s Worth Comparing

Comparing plans is the best way to figure out if it’s worth making any changes.

Medicare has a plan finder that lets you compare the cost and range of services from health providers in your area. By using this tool you can:

• See what types of drugs are covered under each health plan
• Calculate out-of-pocket expenses
• See how satisfied current members are with a specific health plan

How to Get Help

Medicare.gov has several resources to help you understand the different types of coverage.

If you still have questions you can get personalized help in your area by searching by topic and getting helpful contacts and websites. You can also always call Medicare at 1 (800) 447-8477.

Watch out for Scammers

Scammers are always looking to take advantage of people, especially when there are changes to Medicare services. Be on the lookout for people trying to sell unsolicited products or services under the guise of Medicare services, as they might try to steal your identity. You should protect your Medicare number as well as your Social Security number.

You can report Medicare fraud online or call 1 (800) 447-8477.

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 23, 2010. Many insurance plans are now required to cover the full cost of preventive services, like medical screenings and vaccines.

Some of the screenings covered include

• Blood Pressure
• Cholesterol
• Depression
• Type 2 Diabetes

Talk to your insurance provider to find out what is covered under your plan. Many of these screenings are covered at no cost under Medicare. Medicaid patients should check with their state to see what is covered.

Find the full list of preventive screenings and vaccines covered under the Affordable Care Act.

It’s important that women have access to the preventive medical services they need. New guidelines now allow millions of women to receive preventive health services by removing barriers such as copays, co-insurance, and deductibles for several common services including:

• well-woman visits
• screening for gestational diabetes
• human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for women 30 and older
• sexually-transmitted infection counseling
• human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling
• FDA-approved contraception methods and contraceptive counseling
• breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling
• domestic violence screening and counseling

New private health plans must cover these women’s preventive services in plan years starting on or after August 1, 2012. Call your insurer for more information.

Learn more about the new women’s prevention guidelines.

It’s been just over a year since President Obama signed the new healthcare law.

This week Healthcare.gov highlighted some of the different benefits you and your family may be eligible for under the new law:

• Most young adults can stay on their parent’s family plan until they turn 26.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re married, living with your parents, in school, or financially independent.
• Most health plans cannot deny coverage to children under age 19 because of pre-existing conditions like cancer or cerebral palsy.
• If you have been uninsured because of a pre-existing condition, you may be eligible to join the more than 12,000 Americans insured through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
• If you are in a new insurance plan, insurance companies cannot charge you a deductible or copays for recommended preventive services, like mammograms, flu shots and other immunizations.
• Insurance companies are prohibited from capping the dollar amount of care you can receive in a lifetime, or canceling your coverage due to a mistake on your application when you get sick.

Visit Healthcare.gov to learn more about specific benefits for small business owners, women and seniors.