AS IS OFTEN the case in Western Washington, the whole is equal to the sum of its parts.
In this case, the “whole” of Medicare is equal to Part A plus Part B plus Part C plus Part D. (Well, OK, plus supplement plans and a few other entertaining nuances, but let’s focus on the main parts.)
For today, let’s focus on what we call Part D, which we can decide stands for “drug;” specifically, prescription drugs.
Many of us know that Monday is Oct. 15. One of the reasons we know this is because Oct. 15 is always the opening day of Part D “open enrollment.” (Yes, it is called a few other things, but most of us say “open enrollment.”)
“Open enrollment” will continue through Dec. 7, which is Pearl Harbor Day — the symbolism is obvious.
While many of us know this all too well, some Medicare newbies might be easily distracted by trivialities such as Halloween, Thanksgiving or mid-term elections (the symbolism is obvious) so let’s walk through this again and give you some information on available help, if help is desired.
Part D plans cover (more or less) our prescription drug costs under Medicare.
They are independent plans (meaning they are owned and administered by insurance companies), that we pay a premium for.
Every year, between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, we have an opportunity to switch to a different Part D plan, if we want to.
Why would we want to?
We’re bored? No, that’s silly — no one has ever been that bored.
We might want to because (a) premium costs can change, and (b) formularies change.
Formularies are the lists of drugs that any particular plan covers, so you want to be sure that the plan you have covers the drugs you’re taking.
And that’s that for that, until Oct. 15, 2019.
Do you have to change Part D plans? No.
If you’re perfectly content with the plan you have and you actually read the stuff they send you and you feel confident that said plan’s formulary will continue to cover what you need to have covered, then voila.
Forget this whole thing and go back to working on your Halloween costume.
If you’re not so sure of all of that, and worry about things such as premiums and formularies, you might want to do a little shopping.
So how does one go shopping?
One goes to Medicare.gov/find-a-plan or just Medicare.gov and hit the “Drug Coverage” (Part D) tab at the top, and off you go.
You’re going to want to have a list of the prescription drugs and dosages that you’re currently taking, the names of any pharmacies you prefer to use, your Medicare card, your ZIP code and a friendly beverage.
You can do this.
You’ll be able to compare plans relatively easily and make whatever choice you want to make.
Remember it’s entirely possible that you could end up sticking with your current plan.
If that’s the case, just do nothing and your current Part D coverage will roll into 2019 unchanged.
Now, some of us never got past the “One goes to Medicare.gov/find-a-plan …” part for any number of very good reasons, and have wisely concluded: “I need help.”
I don’t blame you, and there are a number of ways for you to get that help for free.
You can always call any of the numbers listed at the end of this column, and decent people will help you.
However, many of us need and want face-to-face, one-on-one help with something like this, so you can pack up everything I mentioned above (with the possible exception of your “friendly beverage”) and show up (between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7) at:
• The Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St., from noon to 3 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month.
• The Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road in Chimacum, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays (plus, Oct. 30).
• The Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the fourth Wednesday.
• Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St. in Sequim, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday.
• The Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., from 9 a.m. to noon every Friday.
• The Forks “Information & Assistance” office, at 481 Fifth Ave., by calling 360-374-9496 to arrange a time.
That’s it. It’s free.
No one will try to sell you anything because we don’t have anything to sell.
Please remember that these are “first come, first served” events, so be prepared to be patient, and be prepared to be helped, by smart, decent people.
Please don’t wait until Dec. 6 to do this, if you’re going to do it.
And please remember that the people helping you did not invent Medicare Part D.
If they had, it would be a lot more simple than this.
You can do this.
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Mark Harvey is director of Clallam/Jefferson Senior Information & Assistance, which operates through the Olympic Area Agency on Aging. He is also a member of the Community Advocates for Rural Elders partnership. He can be reached at 360-452-3221 (Port Angeles-Sequim), 360-385-2552 (Jefferson County) or 360-374-9496 (West End), or by emailing harvemb@dshs.wa.gov.
