Date: May 9, 2006
Contact: Barbara Schoof Conant
barbara.conant@aging.ks.gov
Director of Communications
(785) 296-6154
It’s decision time.
Kansan seniors with Medicare have until Monday, May 15, to choose a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for 2006 to avoid future financial penalties. Kathy Greenlee, Acting Secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging, said the agency’s volunteer hotline is extending its hours during the weekend before the deadline to assist last minute enrollees.
The KDOA Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) hotline will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, and will be operational until 11 p.m. Monday, May 15, to help callers. Trained hotline volunteers will help callers work through the process. The volunteers offer free, unbiased information on Medicare Part D choices.
"Seniors who miss the May 15 deadline won’t have another opportunity to enroll in a plan until Nov. 15," Greenlee said. "Seniors who don’t enroll before the May 15 deadline will see their premiums go up 1 percent for every month they delay enrollment."
Seniors should consider enrolling unless they have prescription drug coverage from another source. Coverage costs vary, starting at about $10 a month.
Although some members of Congress and others have suggested extending the deadline, Greenlee said at this point that isn't likely to happen.
In addition to using the SHICK hotline at 1-800-860-5260, Kansans also can sign up by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227), which is staffed 24 hours a day.