Event to Help Seniors Grasp New Medicare Drug Program

By , FROM STAFF REPORTS

An all-day counseling session Monday in Pleasanton will focus on helping Medicare beneficiaries understand the new prescription drug program, which begins Jan. 1.

The event is sponsored by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, and participants will include the nonprofit Medicare Today and counselors from the nonbiased Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program of Alameda County.

The Medicare information and enrollment event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the Pleasanton Masonic Center at 3370 Hopyard Road. It is open to the public.

Medicare recipients who want counseling on the new drug benefit should bring their Medicare cards, prescription drug bottles or comprehensive lists of drugs and any letters they have received from Medicare.

Seniors may ask personalized questions and attend presentations and one-on-one counseling sessions.

“In less than an hour, seniors can get all the necessary information, receive individual help and even enroll in a new plan,” said Dan Cohen, field director for Medicare Today.

Multilingual staff will be on hand.