Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15: Help Available for Seniors

Medicare enrollment for the federal health insurance program for seniors runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During this time, seniors can review their current plan, change their drug coverage, or enroll. It’s critical that those who receive coverage through Medicare examine their plan and choose the one that best fits their health needs.

Finding the right plan, and navigating the enrollment process, is not always easy, however. The Missouri Department of Insurance is offering free help to seniors who want to review their coverage or enroll in Medicare through Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri (CLAIM), a government-funded organization that provides free consumer help with Medicare issues. Counselors can also help low-income citizens determine if they qualify for federal or state assistance.  

For more information, call (800) 390-3330 or visit www.missouriclaim.org.

Medicare is one of the most important social safety nets created by our government. Through this decades old program, we ensure that seniors and our most vulnerable citizens have access to the health care they need.

Unfortunately, there exists what’s referred to as a “donut hole” for coverage of prescription drugs. For years, MoRx, a state program, has helped those seniors purchase the medications they need. MoRx was set to expire this year. I was proud to support the effort to renew the program, which was successfully passed by the Legislature this year and signed into law by the governor.

For more information on MoRx, and how it can provide prescription drug assistance by coordinating benefits with Medicare’s (Part D) Prescription Drug program, visit www.morx.mo.gov or call (800) 375-1406.