People with Medicare will see some significant changes to Medicare enrollment rules this fall. If they miss the opportunity to make adjustments to their plans now, they will have to wait another year.

The following will change:

• Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period will take place Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Both Part D and Medicare Advantage plan members can make plan changes at this time.

• Medicare’s Annual Disenrollment Period will take place from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14, 2019. People only with Medicare Advantage plans will be able to return to Original Medicare and join a stand-alone prescription drug (Part D) plan.

APPRISE counselors will be available to assist people with assessing their Medicare coverage options this enrollment season. Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to contact the Carbon County APPRISE program as soon as possible to set up a counseling appointment by calling 610-824-7830 or 800-441-1315, ext. 225.

A high volume of callers is expected this year.

APPRISE counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries:

• Review current coverage

• Check qualification for low-income programs

• Compare plans with all available options

• Search for specific plans online that meet specific prescription and medical needs

• Give easy-to-understand answers to questions about Medicare

• Help enroll in a plan online

Beneficiaries may also use online tools available at www.medicare.gov (the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health coverage) to review options for 2019. They can compare cost and coverage information on plans serving their area by entering the required information along with the current prescriptions and pharmacy preference.

“Carbon County Area Agency on Aging volunteers and staff serve our community with tremendous enthusiasm and purpose,” said Darlene Sampson, APPRISE director, Pennsylvania Department of Aging. “Without their assistance, we would not be able to provide the services vital to the health and well-being of our community.”

Carbon County Area Agency on Aging is a local affiliate of APPRISE, a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the designated State Health Insurance Program in Pennsylvania. SHIPs receive grant funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide direct, local assistance to Medicare beneficiaries through one-on-one, counseling sessions (both in-person and over the phone), presentations, and public education programs. The national SHIP network includes over 1,300 local sponsoring organizations supporting over 12,000 counselors (mostly volunteers) and staff. Last year, SHIPs served over 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide.

APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program designed to help Pennsylvanians with Medicare. Counselors are specially trained volunteers who can answer your questions and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance (also known as Medigap), Medicaid, and Long-Term Care Insurance.

Call 800-783-7067 to connect with a counselor in your area. Or, for more information, call 610-824-7830 or 800-441-1315, ext. 225, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.