PERRYSBURG – The Ohio Department of Insurance – through its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information
Program (OSHIIP) – will host a free and unbiased "Medicare Check-up Day" event on Tuesday,
Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave. in Perrysburg.
The focus will be on helping beneficiaries, family members and caregivers understand the different
Medicare options and assistance with plan selection.
"This event provides a great opportunity for people with Medicare to learn about their plan options
and how to secure the appropriate coverage," said Mary Jo Hudson, director of the Ohio Department
of Insurance. "I strongly encourage people to attend or call our OSHIIP hotline at 1-800-686-1578
with any questions about Medicare coverage."
OSHIIP is conducting Medicare Check-up Days in each of Ohio’s 88 counties to complement Medicare’s annual
"coordinated election" period, which started Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31. Coverage secured during
this period will begin Jan. 1, 2010.
During the coordinated election period, people on Medicare can select one of several coverage options:
Original Medicare for their health coverage needs paired with a stand-alone Part D prescription drug
plan; a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits including drug coverage;
or determine if their existing coverage already meets their health insurance needs. Plan benefits may
change each year, so Ohioans are encouraged to contact OSHIIP for a plan review. In addition, financial
assistance is available to those with limited income.
At each Check-Up Day event, OSHIIP representatives will discuss changes to Medicare and preventative
benefits, how to manage expenses during the Part D coverage "doughnut hole" or gap in
coverage, share information on financial assistance available to those with limited income, advise
beneficiaries if they can coordinate other coverage and also run comparison reports on various plans.
OSHIIP can help beneficiaries enroll in their Medicare coverage of choice starting Nov. 15.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a list of their prescriptions drugs, dosages and preferred pharmacy, as
well as any information on pension, VA or other medical care benefits they are receiving.
For a complete listing of available Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.medicare.gov. Those
with Medicare questions and those who need enrollment assistance or information about financial
assistance programs can call OSHIIP at 1-800-686-1578 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or
Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A listing of all Medicare Check-Up Days is available at: www.insurance.ohio.gov.