Prescription drug plans are mailing the Annual Notice of Change for 2011, as well as, the other plans wanting your business. The number of plans in Nebraska is being reduced. Your plan may be one of those which will be discontinued. The Annual Notice may or may not say your plan is being discontinued. The company may have rolled you into one of their other plans without regards to your medications or any qualifications to get your medications, like step therapy or prior authorization. This is why it is very important for you to schedule an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteer, an unbiased counselor, to compare plans in order to find the one that best fits your situation.

Beginning November 15, Jeanne Murray, UNL Extension Educator and SHIIP volunteer will be available to help you compare plans, find the prescription drug plan that best meets your needs and enroll you in that plan. For an appointment with Jeanne, call the Extension Office at 308-762-5616. Remember to bring your Medicare card, a list of your medications and the package of information from your 2010 (current) plan. Don’t wait until the end of December if you want to begin using your new plan early in January. December 17 is the last day for appointments.