Medicare enrollment deadlines loom

Several key deadlines are approaching for Medicare beneficiaries.

They are as follows:

• Feb. 14: Last day to disenroll from Medicare Advantage plans. People with a Medicare health plan can go back to Original Medicare and enroll in a prescription drug "Part D" plan.

• Feb. 29: Last day to enroll in a prescription drug "Part D" plan if their 2011 Medicare Advantage plan was Anthem Freedom Blue I with prescription coverage.

• May 2: Last day to sign up for a Medicare supplemental plan without consideration of pre-existing conditions, if their previous plan left the area, such as Anthem Freedom Blue I Medicare Advantage plan.

In addition, people with Medicare who also have full Medi-Cal benefits or are paying reduced rates for their prescription drugs because of their limited income, have year-round rights to change their Part D coverage.

For more information or to schedule a counseling appointment call PASSAGES HICAP at 898-6716.

If a group or agency would like to host a workshop, please call Natasha Coulter-LaTorre, Outreach Specialist at 898-6715. HICAP does not sell or endorse any insurance products.

For more information about PASSAGES services go to www.passagescenter.org.