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County Gears Up For Next Round Of Medicare Part D Enrollment
TOMS RIVER - With another annual enrollment period approaching for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program Part D, Ocean County's Office of Senior Services is gearing up to assist county residents eligible for the program.
"We again intend to make every effort to inform our senior residents of what is available to them and how they can access this program," said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as chairman of Senior Services. "It's imperative that our Office of Senior Services maintains the same level of outreach as when this prescription drug program got started."
According to Jane Maloney, director of the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, information on the drug program began distribution to drug plan participants in early October.
By mid-October, the Medicare Plan Finder 2007 is scheduled to be up and running.
"This is an essential tool that can be accessed by our residents to gather information and evaluate the various Part D plan alternatives," Maloney said. "Enrollment will not begin until November 15 and will conclude on December 31 for 2007."
Maloney said that "Medicare and You 2007" which contains information on drug plan benefits and cost information will be mailed to the homes of Medicare beneficiaries in early November.
"As last time, we highly recommend our residents keep all this information in a large envelope in one convenient spot," Maloney said. "The information they receive will be helpful but it may take time to get through it all and really understand it."
In an effort to help the county's seniors will all this information, Office of Senior Services is involved in sponsoring seminars and other programs to help with enrollment procedures and other information.
To assist with the upcoming enrollment period, the Ocean County Office of Senior Services is partnering with the Ocean County Health Department and the Ocean County Library to provide six educational workshops on how to use the Medicare Plan Finder.
In addition, Senior Services will be available at six Ocean County Health Department flu shot clinics to provide Medicare Part D information.
The Office of Senior Services also is sponsoring four educational seminars that will include information on Medi- care Part D. A question and answer period will follow the presentation given by Senior Health Insurance Program Director Debbie Breslin, from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Starting November 15 until December 27, Part D days will be held each Wednesday at the County Connection at the Ocean County Mall.
"We intend to blanket the county with programs and information to make sure no one gets left behind in this process," Vicari said. "With agencies working together we will make every effort to get everyone that may need some help with this."
Vicari also encouraged seniors to visit the Ocean County website at www. co.ocean.nj.us to obtain the most updated information regarding Medicare Part D.
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