Town hall to offer help and answer questions for Idahoans Tuesday
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) - For the state’s roughly 323,000 Medicare beneficiaries, Oct. 15 is an important day. It kicks off Medicare’s annual open-enrollment period, which runs through Dec. 7 and is the only time of the year people can alter their plans. With changes taking place in the program this year, Idahoans could find different options in price, coverage, and plans.
To help people navigate Medicare enrollment, AARP Idaho and experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will hold a live and interactive statewide telephone town hall. The toll-free hour-long call takes place on Oct. 24 at noon MTN. Participants can join and ask questions by dialing 866-767-0637 or watching live on Facebook at facebook.com/aarpidaho. Questions may also be submitted ahead of time by emailing aarpid@aarp.org.
Lupe Wissel, AARP Idaho state director will host and moderate the discussion with experts from the US Department of Health and Human Services Region 10 - Louise Ryan, Regional Administrator, Administration for Community Living (ACL); Ken Gardner, Director, Seattle Division of Casework Management, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); and Priya Helweg, Executive Officer, Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs will provide up-to-date information about Medicare and answer callers’ questions.
“Open enrollment is going on right now until December 7 and there are important changes to the Medicare program in 2024 that Idahoans need to know about, especially changes to Medicare Part B, prescription drug plans, and adult immunization. This is an incredible opportunity for Idahoans to ask questions directly to the federal experts and make changes to their plans which can have a direct impact on their lives,” Wissel said. “This is the one opportunity they get each year to do this.”
Medicare beneficiaries who want to make changes to their coverage can do so during open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Open enrollment also provides an ideal time for people to talk with their doctors about their prescription drugs and potentially lower cost options.
