Senior News Line: Should you review your Medicare plan?

With only a few weeks to go during this annual signup period, there are several reasons many seniors aren’t making changes to their Medicare health plans. Only 15 percent of us made changes last year or plan to make changes in the future.

According to a news release by Allsup, here is the biggest reason seniors don’t make the changes: The process of making plan changes can be complex. Comparing the plans and making choices can be complicated.

However, by not taking the time to compare plans, seniors can miss out on benefits and savings. Medicare plans can change, both in cost and what they cover. Seniors can find themselves unexpectedly paying more in co-pays or deductibles, or discovering after the fact that their plan no longer covers certain procedures.

In a survey, 43 percent of seniors said they’d had that happen to them — where Medicare didn’t pick up the costs. There are good reasons to review your plans. You may need a new plan if ...

• Your health has changed, especially if it requires new prescription drugs or visits to a specialist.

• You move to another location, away from your plan’s service area.

• Your local provider changes, for example, if your physician retires or a facility changes.

• A drug you need is no longer on the list for your current plan due to changes in drug coverage.

There are a few ways to get help with selecting your plan. Allsup (Medicare.Allsup.com) is a fee-based service that can help. You also can go online to medicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1- 800-633-4227). Remember that your 54-day window to make changes ends Dec. 7.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Send email to columnreply2@gmail. com. © 2013 King Features Synd. Inc.