Staff Report

People who are eligible for Medicare, in St. Clair County, can receive free help in choosing among Medicare medical and prescription drug plans for 2010 at the enrollment events on Monday, November 30, in Pell City and Wednesday, December 9, in Ashville.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), sponsored by the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A), provides information and assistance concerning health insurance issues to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages.

In addition, if you are over fifty-five and do not have Medicare or Medicaid or if you are on disability at any age but you do not have Medicare yet, you can apply for free help obtaining prescription drugs through the M4A Senior Rx Program. People who are over age sixty can also receive help with legal issues.

You can obtain assistance with any of these matters on November 30, at the Pell City Senior Center and December 9, at the Ashville Senior Center during the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Pell City Senior Center is located at 801 Comer Avenue, telephone (205) 338-6589. The Ashville Senior Center is located at 115 8th Street, telephone (205) 594-7666.

People should bring their prescription containers, Social Security cards, Medicare and any other health or prescription cards (if they have any), date of birth, and income information.

If you cannot attend, you may receive free help by telephone by calling M4A at 1-866-570-2998 and asking for help from the SHIP program.

During the annual open enrollment period (November 15 through December 31), all Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in whatever Medicare medical and prescription drug plan they choose for 2010. Medicare eligible persons are urged to consider carefully their choices for 2010 because the cost and coverage offered by the numerous plans available in Alabama will all change for the New Year.

Those eligible for Medicare whose household incomes are below $1374 monthly (one person household) or $1841 monthly (two person household) may be eligible for extra help that could greatly reduce the cost of their medical and prescription drug coverage. The income limits for larger household are increased $476.50 monthly for each additional person in the household who is financially dependent on the Medicare beneficiary. You can attend one of the events to enroll or you can telephone 1-866-570-2998 to determine whether you qualify for any of these extra benefits.

In addition, if you are having problems with medical or drug plan in which you enrolled, you should attend one of these events or request help by telephone. Legal assistance will also be available at these events or by telephone to people over sixty years of age (regardless of income) who need help with non-criminal legal matters, such as a simple will or power of attorney. Call M4A at 1-866-570-2998 and ask for help from the legal assistance program.