It was recently reported that South Dakota was in the lower percentile for enrollment rates for Medicare Part D.

Though there has been much publicity on the negative aspects of Medicare Part D there are a tremendous number of individuals seeing some reduced prescription drug costs. Assistance is available to individuals in finding a plan which fits their situation or just to help answer general questions.

Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHIINE) volunteers and Extension Service personnel will be at the Aberdeen Senior Center on the next five Wednesdays: March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, from 10:30 to 3 p.m. each day.

Individuals requesting assistance should bring all applicable information concerning their questions. Those individuals who would like assistance in sorting through the plans would need to provide their Medicare number; birth date; effective date of enrollment in Medicare Part A and B; their zip code; and an accurate and complete list of the medications they are taking including the dosage, number of times taken in a one month period and estimated cost per month.

Many people have enrolled in Medicare Part D already and are currently receiving benefits. For individuals who have enrolled in Medicare Part D and have not yet been to the pharmacy to purchase any prescriptions, there are a couple of steps which may expedite the process of coordinating benefits.

Group ID number, RX Group number, RX Bin number and RX PCN number. The pharmacist will need these to coordinate the appropriate benefits. Individuals who enrolled prior to Jan. 1, 2006, were eligible for benefits in January 2006. Individuals who enrolled Feb. 1 or after in 2006 will not be eligible for benefits until March 1, 2006. Activation of benefits is the month following when the individual enrolled.

Members enrolled in a prescription drug program will also want to notify their physician that they are enrolled in a prescription drug plan so that prescribed medication(s) may coordinate with plan benefits if at all possible. If medications are prescribed which are not available on plan benefits, individuals or the physician may request an appeal for coverage of that medication. Forms may have been included in members' enrollment packets, obtained by calling the plan company or accessed online at the company Web site.

Generally enrollment is for a one-year period. But, during this open enrollment period, Nov. 15, 2005, through May 15, 2006, individuals may change plans one time with out penalty. After May 15, 2006, there may be a penalty for changing plans prior to the end of the year. Individuals who are on Medicaid and receive Medicare benefits and those who receive "Extra Help" for Medicare Part D premiums and/or co-pays and deductibles may change plans on a monthly basis without penalty, but the benefits with the plan they change to will not become effective until the month following enrollment.

Because Medicare Part D has the option of having the premium paid directly from one's Social Security to the company one enrolls in, it would be a good idea for those who selected this payment option to double-check their Social Security earnings deposit to be sure that the appropriate amount is being transferred to the company providing benefits. Those receiving the full extra help and had chosen the option to deduct it from the Social Security also want to check to be sure that they are not having a payment made to the company as they would not be responsible for the premium.

A publication addressing these issues above and many other questions may be obtained from your local Extension Office or by calling the Brown County Extension Office at (605) 626-7120. The publication is also available on the Web site at http://sdces.sdstate.edu/entire index.cfm?countyid=3.

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