Help offered for choosing Medicare drug plan

Altogether, 61 Part D plans are available in Ohio for 2007 coverage.
COLUMBUS -- Ohio Department of Insurance staff will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at (800) 686-1578 to help Ohio beneficiaries enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage before the open-enrollment deadline at midnight Sunday.
The department, through its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is the state's lead agency for Medicare prescription drug information and enrollment assistance.
The open enrollment period provides beneficiaries with the opportunity to enroll in a Part D plan. Or, if they are already enrolled in a plan, they may switch to another Part D or Medicare Advantage plan.
Coverage will begin Monday, department director Ann Womer Benjamin said.
A total of 61 Part D plans are available in Ohio for 2007 coverage. The monthly premium range is 16 to 95.90 and a total of 17 plans provide coverage during the gap period. In addition, many Medicare Advantage plans, which provide more comprehensive health coverage, are available to beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries who qualify for financial assistance will get help paying premiums, deductibles and drug co-payments. A beneficiary who does not qualify for financial assistance and enrolls past the deadline will incur a penalty of 1 percent of the monthly premium each month the beneficiary delays enrollment. The penalty will be added to the monthly premium after the beneficiary enrolls, the department said.
Important open enrollment shopping tips are:
Run a plan comparison report now on www.medicare.gov or contact OSHIIP at (800) 686-1578 for assistance. Determine what plans cover your prescription drugs and when you may reach the coverage gap.
Determine whether your current plan or another one would best meet your prescription drug needs and budget in 2007.
Contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 with financial assistance questions.