sgroves@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS — The Delphos Senior Citizens Center is hosting open enrollment for Medicare Part D.  Now  through Dec. 7, Medicare recipients can change their health plan.  After that date, they will have to wait a year before changing coverage. In 2013, drug coverages, premiums and co-pays will change after the first of the year.
Outreach worker Alice Barnes Curth encourages all Medicare recipients to evaluate their health care plans.
“For example, coverage for insulin and heart medications may apply this year, but change the beginning of 2013,” Curth emphasized. “The difference between coverages may be $2,000-$3,000.”
Ohioans covered by Medicare who want to choose a 2013 plan have many options:
• 100 percent of the people with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan that does not charge a premium;
• 33 Medicare Pre-scription Drug Plans (PDPs) are available;
• 83 percent of people with Part D have access to a plan with a lower premium than in 2011;
• 30 percent of people with Medicare Part D get Extra Help (also called the low-income subsidy, or LIS);
• 16 PDPs have $0 deductibles;