BATON ROUGE – Louisiana councils on aging, area agencies on aging, aging and disability resource centers, and their partners through the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, are inviting every Medicare-eligible or enrolled senior or adult with a disability to visit their offices and get their benefits updated.
“Medicare benefits change every year, and it is important that even enrolled Medicare beneficiaries be sure they are getting all the help they are eligible for,” said GOEA Deputy Assistant Director Karen Ryder. “This is a great time of year to have our counselors review Part A, B and D benefits, as well as educate seniors and adults with disabilities about all the wellness benefits available at no cost to them.”
The Capital Area Agency on Aging and their Aging & Disability Resource Center invites the public to call them at (800) 280-0908 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or attend one of the free enrollment events to update their benefits or enroll in Medicare.
The counselors will have particular focus on making sure seniors or adults with disabilities are enrolled in the Medicare Savings Program, which offers help paying for Part A and B premiums which cover hospital and doctor visits, or the Low Income Subsidy Program which can pay for the Part D prescription drug program’s premium, deductible, co-pays and donut hole.
“We also use this time of year to make sure Medicare beneficiaries know that a lot of free wellness exams are offered by their insurance, such as ultrasounds, cancer and diabetes screenings, mammograms, vaccinations, even smoking cessation programs,” said Director Ryder. “To get extra help, you must apply.”
Documentation that may be required for applications may include:
Medicare Insurance Card
Proof of Income: Pay Stub, Social Security Award Letter, etc.
List of Prescriptions with dosages
Statement of what you spent on drugs in the past year
Enrollment and counseling is a free service offered in association with the State of Louisiana's Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs and funds from the Administration for Community Living.
