Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) annual enrollment is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Don’t miss your opportunity to compare and switch plans.

It’s worth it to take the time to review and compare. The cost, coverage and participation of MA and Part D plans changes on an annual basis. If you have one of these plans you may receive an Annual Notice of Change letter in early October detailing any changes to your plan.

Central Oregon Medicare Beneficiaries can get one-on-one help comparing plans from your local Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. SHIBA is part of the Oregon Insurance Division and sponsored locally in Central Oregon by the Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA), also known as an Area Agency on Aging. To schedule an appointment with a certified SHIBA counselor contact COCOA SHIBA at 541-678-5483.

Some other important facts to know for 2016:

People with Medicare Part D will receive approximately 55 percent off the cost of brand name drugs, and 42% percent off the cost of generic drugs, in the donut hole.” The donut hole is scheduled to be closed by the year 2020. For more information on the gradual closing of the donut hole refer to Medicare publication 11493 available online at http://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11493.pdf

People with Medicare may have questions about the Health Insurance Marketplace and wonder if it affects them. The Health Insurance Marketplace is designed to help people who don’t have any health insurance. You have health insurance through Medicare. The Marketplace won’t have any effect on your Medicare coverage. Your Medicare benefits aren’t changing. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have the same benefits and security you have always had. The Marketplace provides health insurance options for many Americans. If you have family and friends who don’t have health insurance, tell them to visit HealthCare.gov to learn more about their options. Medicare’s Open Enrollment isn’t part of the Health Insurance Marketplace. It’s against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan.

The Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there’s a higher risk for fraudulent activities. DO NOT share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who knocks on your door or contacts you uninvited to sell you a health plan. The SHIBA and it partner program the Senior Medicare Patrol are teaching people with Medicare how to detect and report fraud, and protect themselves from fraudulent activity and identity theft. To learn more about health care fraud and ways to protect against it, visit StopMedicareFraud.gov or the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program. In Central Oregon the SMP program is sponsored by the Central Oregon Council on Aging Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. For more information about the SMP and how you can volunteer, visit http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/spwpd/Pages/SUA-SMP.aspx

• Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.

• Review the Medicare & You 2016 handbook. It is mailed to people with Medicare in September.

• Call the SHIBA state central office at 1-800-722-4134, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday for help with any of your Medicare questions.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

• View the 2016 Oregon Guide to Medicare Health Insurance Plans on the state SHIBA website at www.oregonshiba.org. This guide is produced annually by SHIBA staff of the Oregon Insurance Division and is a trusted and valued resource.

• If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get Extra Help paying your prescription drug coverage costs. For more information, visit www.SocialSecurity.gov or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. SHIBA counselors can also help you apply for this benefit.