For Immediate Release
November 08, 2007
Contact Information
JACK CHEEVERS
(415)744-3723
Medicare and the Venice Family Clinic Work Together to Help Area Residents with Medicare Enhance Their Health
“Working Together for Better Health” Medicare Bus Tour Educates Local Beneficiaries about Health and Drug Plan Options during Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment (Nov. 15-Dec. 31)
Centers for Medicaid & Medicad Services and the
Venice Family Clinic
WHAT:
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will join the Clinic to help local residents review their Medicare health plans for 2008. Medicare counselors will arrive aboard the “big Medicare bus” to provide information about tools and resources available to help beneficiaries make smart choices about their health during Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment, which runs November 15-December 31, 2007. During Open Enrollment, people with Medicare will be selecting Medicare health and drug coverage for 2008.
Beneficiaries are urged to assess their health needs, review their current health and drug coverage, compare it with other plans, and choose a plan that’s best for them. They are also urged to act quickly, so their coverage works smoothly in 2008. Extra financial help is available for people with Medicare who cannot afford their prescription drug costs. Experts will be on-site ready to help eligible people with Medicare learn more about the $3,600 that is available to help pay for Part D drug coverage and to help them complete the extra help applications. Beneficiaries can also apply for extra help through their local Social Security office by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov, or calling 1-800-772-1213.
Medicare counselors will use laptops to help local seniors pick a new health plan. Medicare’s administrator for California, Dr. Charlotte Yeh, will be present to answer seniors’ questions. The big Medicare bus makes a nice photo! Counseling is free of charge and no appointment is necessary.
We’d be happy to work with you on an advance story of this event.
WHEN:
Tues. Nov. 13, 2007
9 – 11:30 a.m.
1 – 3 p.m. (press availability with Dr. Yeh at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.)
WHERE:
Venice Family Clinic
2509 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica
BACKGROUND:
The right Medicare plan lets you get on with your plans. People with Medicare don’t want to worry about their health coverage all year. They want to spend time doing the things they enjoy. By taking a little time today to review your current plan’s coverage for 2008 and comparing it to other plans available, you will be able to get on with your plans the rest of the year. As part of this fall’s “Working Together for Better Health” Medicare Bus Tour, CMS will host events across the country helping people with Medicare make the most of their benefits.
Help is available to choose a plan by attending a “Working Together” Medicare event, contacting a county or city office on aging, visiting www.medicare.gov, or calling 1-800-MEDICARE. While change may not be necessary, people with Medicare can use Open Enrollment time to review and make adjustments to their existing Medicare coverage. There may be another plan that’s better for them.
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