Medicare Part D enrollment reopening for seniors, disabled
Open enrollment in Medicare Part D, the federal prescription drug plan for seniors and the disabled, will begin again Nov. 15. Health officials said people considering enrolling in the plan or changing their choices should take a look at their options now.
But officials also emphasized that many beneficiaries may not want to switch.
“Seniors who are satisfied with their current coverage will not – will not – have to take any action when open enrollment begins in November,” Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt emphasized at a press conference Friday.
Overall, the number of plans and options has increased while the amount of premiums has decreased, federal officials said. In Washington, there will be 57 plans available. The lowest premium in Washington is $15 a month. Options that cover generic and preferred brand name drugs are available for less than $50 a month.
In Idaho, 56 plans will be available; the lowest premium is $13.30 a month. Premium drug coverage is available for as low as $50 a month, officials reported.
New online tools will be available in mid-October to help people enroll or change plans. Until then, an overview of available plans is posted at www.medicare.gov. Click on the state-by-state breakdowns to access information for Washington or Idaho.
About two-thirds of the eligible people in Washington and Idaho had signed up for the federal drug plan by the time the last enrollment period closed in May. No one knows how many people to expect this time, said Michael Marchand, director of public affairs for Region 10 of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
But officials were optimistic that the confusion that marked the kickoff of the drug plan last year has been tempered by time and tinkering.
“For a number of people, this will be the second go-round,” he said. “If they have an idea of what their health care needs are now, they can plan now and anticipate it.”
Schools honored for blood drive successes
More than 100 blood drives hosted by 66 regional high schools reached nearly 5,200 donors, prompting praise and awards from the Inland Northwest Blood Center.
Mead High School earned top honors as a large school for hosting a pair of two-day blood drives that netted 558 registered donors and 421 units of collected blood or blood products.
Coeur d’Alene High School also was honored for hosting one two-day blood drive that drew 348 registered donors and collected 242 units of blood.
A number of awards went to several area schools. Post Falls High School had the highest number of donors – 309. St. George’s School had the greatest increase in donors – 186 percent. Colville High School and Newport (Wash.) High School had the highest percentage of first-time donors – 75 percent. The award for the highest percentage of units collected went to Tekoa (Wash.) High School, with 46 percent. And the award for the highest number of units at any one drive – 121 – went to Post Falls High School.