The annual open enrollment period for choosing a health insurance plan ends Dec. 7.

This is the time of year when you can switch health insurance plans. If your plan is not accepted by your doctor or does not have your medications listed on their formularies, you might want to find out about other health insurance plans that better meet your needs. Medicare.gov has a plan finder, in which you can compare plans based on your medications. The plan finder is a great tool one can use to help lower prescription costs, and to ensure that your medications are on a health care plan’s formulary – but you still need to do your homework to make sure that your doctor (s) accept the health insurance plan you choose. Please contact us at 1-800-333-4374 if you need assistance with comparing health insurance plans.

This is also the time of year to be even more vigilant about answering phone calls from unknown phone numbers. With the holidays right around the corner, scammers are hoping to catch you off guard so they can get your personal information. Consumer scams and Medicare Fraud is on the rise, costing taxpayers billions of dollars in losses annually.

If you have a cell phone, you can download an app called “No Mo Robo.” It is a free app that allows scam calls to ring once and then the phone hangs up. This is a great tool, but it only hangs up on known scam phone numbers. If you receive such a call, do not call the number back. If you have been a victim of Medicare Fraud, give my office a call at 1-800-333-4374 for assistance.