MONROE, La. – The Medicare advantage open enrollment period is still going this month. The CENLA Area Agency on Aging is reminding seniors they have certified counselors available to help them with their plans before the period ends.
“Formularies can change from year to year. So what medication was covered last year might not be covered this year,” says Paige Granger, CENLA Area Agency on Aging counselor.
The Medicare advantage plan includes your doctors, hospitals and drug plans all in one plan. Seniors can call the agency to check their plans, and the counselors can help make necessary changes if needed.
Granger says it’s important for seniors to make sure they will have everything they need for this upcoming year. If not, “They might not be able to get their medications covered at their pharmacy, and also not be able to see their doctors that they choose to see if the doctors are not in the network anymore.”
The agency also has a Medicare Savings Program and the low income subsidy. Counselors can help process applications “for low income beneficiaries to help pay for their part B premiums, their part A premiums, their coinsurance, their deductibles. It’s a really good program to help the seniors out.”
The nonprofit also serves as a center for COVID essential service applications. “It covers food stamp applications, food bank applications. We have a program for free cell phones and free eyeglasses, Granger says.
The Medicare advantage open enrollment period is open until March 31.
To call to set up an appointment with a counselor, you can call (318) 484- 2260. You can also visit the CENLA Area Agency on Aging website or Facebook page for more information on all of their services.
