SHIP counselors available to help with Medicare Advantage Plan

The open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) ends March 31.

If you already have Original Medicare, this open enrollment period is not you, according to a news release from Morris Hospital.

According to the release, this open enrollment period is for:

• Anyone enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan who now wants to move to a different Medicare Advantage Plan (with our without drug coverage) or

• Anyone who wants to return to Original Medicare and, if needed, join a Medicare prescription drug plan.

If you switch from Medicare Advantage Plans or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a Medicare drug plan) your new coverage begins on the “first day of the month after the new plan receives the request for coverage,” the release said.

However, if you return to Original Medicare now, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, the release said.

Volunteer counselors from the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) are available by telephone to help you navigate this process. This health insurance counseling is free for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers, the release said.

SHIP is a program of the Illinois Department of Aging. Medicare certifies SHIP counselors to “educate consumers and answer questions about Medicare, Medicare supplements, prescription drug plans and Advantage plans,” the release said.

“SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company, and the counselors do not sell or solicit any type of insurance,” the release said.

Morris Hospital is the sponsor for local SHIP volunteers, the release said.

To schedule a phone consultation with a SHIP counselor, call Morris Hospital at 815-705-1063 or call Medicare at 800-633-4227. TTY users should call 877-486-2048.