BACOA offers Medicare Part D consultation

The Barrington Area Council on Aging is now scheduling Medicare Part D consultation appointments through Friday, Dec. 5.

The annual open enrollment period for Medicare began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. Enrollees can switch their Medicare Part D plan or enroll in a plan for the first time.

If you are currently in a Medicare Part D plan, the company is required to send an "Annual Notice of Change" to all of its members. This package has information about the upcoming changes each plan has in store for 2015. Among the things that enrollees should look for:

• How much will the premium be in 2015?

• How much will the deductible be in 2015?

• Are the enrollee's drugs still covered by the plan or has it changed tiers? The plan may have certain restrictions in 2015 that it may not have had in 2014.

• Has overall cost changed?

If enrollees are satisfied with the changes to their current plan and feel that the plan fits their needs, they do not have to do anything; the plan will automatically renew Jan. 1.

BACOA encourages everyone to review their plans annually because formularies and plan cost change every year.

For those who want to enroll, review or change their plan, call BACOA at (847) 381-5030 to schedule a consultation appointment. Appointments fill quickly, so call soon.

The Barrington Area Council on Aging, Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to serve seniors, family caregivers and the community. For information, visit www.bacoa.org.