52 The QUEE NS Courier • wellness • OCTOBER 20, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com WELLNESS s Are you ready to pick t he right Medicare plan? It’s picking season — pumpkins, apples, Halloween candy … and a Medicare health or drug plan. Medicare Open Enrollment runs through Dec. 7. Picking a plan is an important and personal decision. Each person has a unique set of priorities. When you sit down to review your Medicare health and drug plan choices this year, keep track of the things you may want in a plan, and pick one that’s right for you. Here are some things to keep in mind while you consider your choices: Does the plan cover the services you need? Future health care needs can be hard to predict, but changes happen. Make sure you understand what services and benefits you’re likely to use in the coming year and find coverage that meets your needs. If you have other types of health or prescription drug coverage, make sure you understand how that coverage works with Medicare. And, if you travel a lot, look to see if your plan covers you when you’re away from home. No matter what plan you pick, you’ll get these benefits: A discount of 60 percent on covered brandname drugs if you reach the Part D prescription drug coverage gap (“donut hole”) A free yearly “wellness” visit, so you can sit down with your doctor and talk about your health concerns and the best ways to stay healthy A host of preventive tests and screenings — including cancer screenings — most at no cost to you What’s the cost? The lowest-cost health plan option might not be the best choice for you — consider things like the cost of premiums and deductibles, how much you pay for hospital stays and doctor visits, and whether it’s important for you to have expenses balanced throughout the year. How about convenience? Your time is valuable. Ask yourself these questions: Where are the doctors’ offices? What are their hours? Which pharmacies can you use? Can you get prescriptions by mail? Do the doctors use electronic health records or prescribe electronically? Quality is important! Not all health care is created equal, and the doctors, hospitals and facilities you choose can impact your health. Open Enrollment is also a good time to ask yourself whether you’re truly satisfied with your medical care. Look for plans with a five‑star performance rating — the right expertise and care can make a difference. Remember, even if you’re happy with your current plan, these answers might change from year to year, so it’s important to take the time to compare. The Medicare Plan Finder makes it easy to compare plans based on all of these factors, so you can pick a plan that meets your needs. From the Medicare Blog by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, blog.medicare. gov.
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