VI SHIP/Medicare Holds Forum for Medicare Beneficiaries; Open Enrollment Period for Part D begins
The Virgin Islands State Health Insurance Assistance Program (VI SHIP) held its annual forum on Medicare on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Virgin Islands Cardiac Center on St. Croix. A similar forum was held on Friday, November 20, 2009 on St. Thomas.
VI SHIP Director/Medicare Coordinator Rena Sarauw gave a Medicare 101 presentation, explaining Medicare basics and answering questions about coverage and various parts of Medicare. There was also a presentation by Dr. Dawn Mannings on hypertension and ways it can be managed; and a discussion by Joanne White, a nutritionist at the Gov. Juan F. Luis hospital, on the benefits of eating well as she implored the Medicare beneficiaries to be conscious of portion sizes and calories.
Maria Martinez, a health insurance specialist from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Puerto Rico, explained the new Medicare Advantage program that will soon be available in the Virgin Islands beginning January 1, 2010. Medicare Advantage is a special Medicare program from health insurance companies that often offers additional benefits such as vision and dental for an additional premium.
Ms. Sarauw also reminded beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) open enrollment period that ends on December 31, 2009. This enrollment period allows Medicare Part D beneficiaries to join, change or drop their prescription drug plan without a penalty.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to review their current prescription drug plan to determine if it adequately meets their needs in terms of cost, coverage and convenience. Those who are satisfied with their current plans do not have to re-enroll, but those with concerns should call her office for assistance with changes. Only one open enrollment period is offered per year and those not taking advantage of this year’s open enrollment will have to wait until next year.
To learn more or to obtain assistance with joining or changing a plan, call the VI SHIP office in St. Thomas at 714-4354 or in St. Croix at 772-7368. Beneficiaries may also call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online at www.medicare.gov.
VI SHIP is a program federally funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and locally administered by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Medicare beneficiaries attend the annual Medicare benefits forum hosted by VI SHIP on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Virgin Islands Cardiac Care Center on St. Croix. A similar forum was held on St. Thomas. The annual forums are part of VI SHIP’s outreach efforts to update Medicare beneficiaries on changes and benefits to their Medicare plan.
