October 14, 2019

HOUSTON — Medicare beneficiaries reviewing their 2020 health and prescription drug plan options can get free help from benefits counselors with the Harris County Area Agency on Aging (AAA), a division of the Houston Health Department.

Medicare open enrollment begins October 15 and runs through December 7. It is a period for beneficiaries to compare all their Medicare options and make changes to their health or prescription drug coverage for the following year.

“Mulling over the wide range of Medicare health care options can seem quite daunting to some seniors and people with disabilities, said Rose Ortega, a benefits counselor with AAA. “Guiding them as they evaluate their options can help them find the Medicare plans that better suit their health needs.”

Open enrollment for most beneficiaries may be the only time they can make changes to their Medicare coverage. They can:

• change their Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2020;
• decide which plan will meet their needs for 2020;
• check for changes in their plan such as costs;
• check drug coverage; and
• check if they will be able to see their preferred doctor or pharmacy.

Medicare beneficiaries or their legal representatives can obtain benefits counseling or more information by calling AAA’s call center at 832-393-4301.

Benefits counselors do not recommend or endorse any specific insurance product, insurance company or plan. They provide information and advice so beneficiaries can make their own decisions.

People can enroll in Medicare if they are 65 or older, under 65 and have a disability or have either end-stage renal disease or ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease.