This year’s open enrollment period for Medicare is earlier than usual: October 15th through December 7th. Below, you will find details about the open enrollment period as well as other resources that may be helpful if you have questions about Medicare. As always, please contact my office if we can help you with this or any other issue.  

2011 MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT DATES:
October 15 – December 7, 2011

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period began on October 15th and ends on December 7th. Here are some of the optional changes to your coverage that you may wish to make during this period:

· Change to or from a Medicare Advantage Plan, or select a different one that better meets your needs
· Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
· Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

Medicare can assist you in choosing the plan that best meets your needs. Medicare provides information, counseling and assistance in regards to plans and benefits. Seniors, family members and caregivers can ask questions and learn more about Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or by visiting Medicare’s website at: http://www.medicare.gov.

Warning About Medicare Scams

Since open enrollment began on Oct. 15, officials in many parts of the country have reported an uptick in phone-calling cons and deceptive door-to-door visits.

You may get a phone call — or sometimes an email or knock on the door — from a con artist pretending to be an employee of Medicare, a state agency or an official-sounding (but nonexistent) organization such as the National Medical Office.

You will be told you need a new Medicare card, perhaps one with enhanced benefit options, and you may be asked for your Medicare number (which is your Social Security number) and your date of birth.

You may even be asked for a credit card or bank account number, under the guise of covering the cost of the new card or further "verifying" your identity. 

This is a scam! Do not provide any personal information!!   

Medicare will not call you asking for your information.  Medicare will only ask for it when you contact the agency yourself. And there are no legitimate Medicare agents who will visit your home or send unsolicited emails.

Providing your information to these people is a set-up for possible identity theft. The requested information is all that scammers need to establish new credit accounts in your name. The information can also be used to make bogus duplicate cards for medical identity theft, in which health care services are provided to someone else using your identity.

If you need additional assistance with any Medicare concerns, you may also contact my offices in Sugar Land office at 281-494-2690 or Clear Lake at 281-486-1095.If you need additional assistance with any Medicare concerns, you may also contact my offices in Sugar Land office at 281-494-2690 or Clear Lake at 281-486-1095.