Reminder: Medicare open-enrollment period ends Wednesday

[December 05, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Insurance is reminding seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers that the open-enrollment period to review and change Medicare insurance benefits will end on Wednesday. The department's Senior Health Insurance Program volunteers are available to provide free information about health insurance benefits available through Medicare and guide eligible residents toward obtaining coverage that best meets the individual's needs.

"As the Medicare open-enrollment period winds down, Medicare enrollees who have not yet reviewed and compared available prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans should call the department's toll-free SHIP hotline or the 24-hour Medicare hotline to help make sure they continue to have the most appropriate coverage," said Andrew R. Stolfi, acting director of the department. "As always, the department's dedicated SHIP volunteers also provide information and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers year-round."

To learn more about Medicare insurance benefits before the open-enrollment period ends, or for general information, call SHIP's toll-free hotline at 1-800-548-9034, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the department's website at https://insurance.illinois.gov.

To view and compare your current drug plan and make enrollment elections, log on to www.Medicare.gov, or call the Medicare hotline 24 hours per day, seven days per week, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

SHIP volunteers have offered free, one-on-one enrollment workshops at more than 25 locations throughout the state since the open-enrollment season started on Oct. 15. All of SHIP's 204 locations continue to offer enrollment assistance to Illinois residents and help with questions about or problems with:

• Medicare.

• Medicare supplemental insurance.

• Medicare Advantage plans (HMO, PPO and PFFS).

• Medicare claims and appeals.

• Prescription drug coverage through Medicare and other sources.

• Long-term care insurance.

Throughout the year, hundreds of trained SHIP volunteers at 204 sites in every county are available to help people with Medicare learn more about available Medicare insurance options. Since SHIP's inception in 1988, volunteers have saved Medicare beneficiaries an estimated $75 million in customer service costs by providing nearly 700,000 hours of counseling and assisting more than 900,000 clients. Gov. Pat Quinn proclaimed Oct. 10-15, 2011, as SHIP Week in Illinois to applaud the volunteer effort.

[Text from news release from the Illinois Department of Insurance]