NORWICH – Medicare beneficiaries – including Original Medicare recipients – and those new to the program this year will have a limited amount of time to review their current health and prescription drug coverage, compare health and drug plan options available and choose a coverage plan that best suits their needs, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment period this year will run through Dec. 31 and Chenango County Area Agency on the Aging Coordinator of Services Brian Wessels said it’s important for those wishing to purchase a Medicare Advantage plan or stand alone drug plan to do so during this time period.

Mary Lee Campbell-Wisely, of senior insurance benefits provider Today’s Options, stated that, in the past, those wishing to enroll in a Medicare plan could do so whenever they wished, year round. That has changed in recent years as the CMS has been limiting that time frame.

“If you have Medicare today or you need to enroll in a plan, basically you have 45 days to make a decision and submit it to the CMS,” said Campbell-Wisely. “We all recognize how confusing this can be, the world of health insurance, and it’s a very short window of time for both Medicare recipients and health care providers.”

Campbell-Wisely said there are a number of issues to consider when choosing a Medicare plan – especially with recent health care reform and the continued economic pressure placed upon senior citizens – and those looking to take advantage of the Open Enrollment period should consider the options offered through Original Medicare and supplemental Medicare Advantage programs; research the ways in which plans differ in their prescription coverage for commonly used drugs; find out why the kind of network your doctor belongs to affects choice and flexibility and realize the importance of choosing the right plan since there is no longer an option to make changes until next year’s enrollment period.