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County Seeks Longer Signup Period For Medicare Part D Enrollment
TOMS RIVER - While Ocean County's Office of Senior Services continues to assist its senior residents with information on how to properly enroll in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program, freeholders are asking that the current enrollment period be extended.
"When our senior residents first began the enrollment process last year they had almost seven months to choose plans and make decisions affecting their health," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of Senior Services. "And, while this is the second time many may be participating in the process, an enrollment period of about six weeks is not long enough in my opinion."
The freeholders passed a resolution asking the county's congressional leaders to extend the enrollment period to March 15, 2007. The deadline currently is December 31, 2006.
"During this short period of time, Medicare enrollees must once again review their coverage and compare plans that will satisfy
their prescription drug needs for
the coming year," Vicari said. "There are 57 stand alone prescription drug plans and 13 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage offered in the State of New Jersey for 2007."
"It will be difficult at best to review all of this information during this shorter enrollment period," Vicari said.
And, Vicari said, if residents miss this enrollment period they would not have another opportunity to enroll until November 15, 2007.
"We are doing all we can to help," Vicari said. "But it would be a greater help if we were provided more time."
In the meantime, representatives from the Office of Senior Services will be at the County Connection, a county government service outlet at the Ocean County Mall on Wednesdays to assist with Medicare Part D enrollment.
Registration is required and can be made by calling the County Connection at 732-288-7777.
"We will assist our residents with what have been dubbed as Part D days at the County Connection until December 27," said Freeholder John P. Kelly, who serves as liaison to the County Connection. "I am pleased we can offer this centrally located facility to assist our seniors."
According to Jane Maloney, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, even residents who were happy with the drug prescription program they enrolled in last year should read all the information they receive should any changes have occurred in their program from the last year to now.
Maloney said that "Medicare and You 2007," which contains information on plan benefits and cost information, was mailed to the homes of Medicare beneficiaries in early November.
"As last time, we highly recommend our residents keep all this information in a large envelope in one convenient spot," Maloney said. "The information they receive will be helpful but it may take time to get through it all and really understand it."
"We intend to blanket the county with programs and information to make sure no one gets left behind in this process," Vicari said. "With agencies working together we will make every effort to get to everyone that may need some help with this."
Vicari also encouraged seniors to visit the Ocean County website at co.ocean.nj.us to obtain the most updated information regarding Medicare Part D.
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