Free Medicare checkups Thursday in Columbiana

COLUMBIANA

The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program of the state’s Department of Insurance will sponsor a free Medicare checkup at 10 a.m. Thursday at Columbiana County Senior Center, 600 E. Fourth St.

The event will help people review changes in Medicare and determine their best coverage option for 2012. The session coincides with Medicare’s annual election period, which has changed and now is from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

People with Medicare questions who need enrollment assistance, including financial help, should call OSHIP at 800-686-1578 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or Medicare at 800-633-4227, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information also is available at www.medicare.gov.