Medicare open enrollment through Dec. 7

The Oswego County Office for the Aging reminds Medicare customers that they have the opportunity to make changes to their benefits during the open enrollment period this fall.

Sara Sunday, aging services specialist with the Oswego County Office for the Aging, said “open enrollment is the one time of year when all people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage.”

Starting this year, open enrollment started earlier - on Oct. 15 - and lasts longer, for seven full weeks.

“The extended open enrollment period gives customers more time to review and make changes to their coverage,” said Sunday. “But also starting this year, Medicare users will need to make their final selection for next year’s Medicare coverage by Dec. 7. This change ensures that Medicare has enough time to process their choice, so their coverage can begin without interruption on Jan. 1.”

Customers can visit www.medi care.gov/find-a-plan to compare their current coverage with all of the options that are available in this area, and enroll in a new plan if they decide to make a change.

Assistance is available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Customers are encouraged to review the “Medicare & You 2012” handbook which was mailed to people with Medicare in September.

Medicare users can also get one-on-one help from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at   800-701-0501 or by calling the Office for the Aging at 349-3484.