Medicare open enrollment season is here

When you shop for a new car, you don’t just buy the first one you see, right?

Of course not. You shop around, looking for the best deal you can get on a vehicle that fits your driving needs as well as your pocketbook.

Medicare open enrollment period begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, 2015.

If you have Original Medicare, meaning that you can choose any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, you don’t need to think about open enrollment.

But if you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) health plan, or a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan, you may want to see if there’s a new plan on the market that would be a better match for you, at a lower price.

If you’re enrolled in a plan already and you’re happy with it, you don’t need to do anything. But Medicare health and drug plans – which are run by private insurers under contract to Medicare – can change from year to year. A plan can raise its monthly premium or drop a medicine that you need.

During open enrollment, you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D prescription drug plan, or switch from one plan to another. Your new coverage will take effect Jan. 1, 2016.

How do you shop for a new plan? There are several ways to do that.

One is the “Medicare & You” handbook, which is mailed each fall to every Medicare household in the country. This booklet lists all the Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans that are available where you live, along with basic information such as premiums, deductibles, and contact information.

There’s also the Medicare Plan Finder, at the www.Medicare.gov website.

Look for a green button that says, “Find health & drug plans.” By clicking on that and plugging in your zip code, you’ll be able to see all of the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your area. You can compare them based on benefits, premiums, co-pays, and estimated out-of-pocket costs. Contact information for the plans is listed.

If you don’t have access to a computer, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Our customer service representatives can help you with questions about Medicare health and drug plans. The call is free.

Another very helpful resource is Nevada’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. Nevada SHIP is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides free, personalized counseling to people with Medicare. You can make an appointment to speak with a SHIP counselor either in-person or over the phone.

SHIP counselors are well-trained volunteers who often are enrolled in Medicare themselves, so they know the issues. They can help you sort through the many health and drug plans on the market and pick one that’s right for you.

To contact Nevada SHIP, call 1-800-307-4444.

If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of Jan. 1, 2016 but you’re not satisfied with it, you have a 45-day window to dis-enroll. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14, 2016, you can drop your plan and return to Original Medicare. You can also sign up for a Part D drug plan during that time.

Having trouble paying for your Part D plan? You may be eligible for the Extra Help program, which helps cover your premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Medicare beneficiaries typically save about $4,000 annually with Extra Help.

For more information on Extra Help, go to www.SSA.gov/prescriptionhelp.

David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).