Council on Aging offers Medicare enrollment assistance

The Council on Aging of Etowah County is offering a full schedule of Medicare Open Enrollment events, as well as assistance in setting up a MyMedicare account.

According to a news release from the council, seniors will need a MyMedicare account, with a unique user name and password, to access help from Medicare or State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselors.

Seniors should do a Medicare “checkup” each year, according to the release, to review changes in pharmacy and provider coverage, or review new plans that are available.

Assistance in setting up an account can be obtained from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Oct. 11 at RSVP, in Room 219 of the Etowah County Courthouse.

Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7; coverage if a participant enrolls in a new plan starts Jan. 1.

For many participants, it’s the only time that a new Medicare Advantage of Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan can be chosen.

The schedule for Open Enrollment Events:

• Attalla Library, 604 N. Fourth St., Attalla; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14.

• Campbell Court, 100 Campbell Court, Gadsden; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5.

• Carnes Recreation Center, 102 Case St. NE, Attalla; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31.

• Carver Community Center, 1030 Tuscaloosa Ave., Gadsden; 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 8.

• Council on Aging Office, inside the Downtown Civic Center, 623 Broad St.; 9 a.m. to noon Oct, 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 4, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Nov. 27.

• Exchange Bank, 230 N. Third St., Gadsden; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3.

• George Wallace Senior Center, 407 Hollingsworth Park Drive, Glencoe; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 17.

• Gadsden Public Library, 254 College Ave., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct, 15, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Nov. 26.

• Hokes Bluff Senior Center, 5981 Gilliland St., Hokes Bluff, 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 5.

• Rainbow City Library, 3702 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 24.

• Sardis City Senior Center, 1335 Sardis Drive, Sardis City, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7,

• Walnut Grove Library, 5151 Walnut Grove Road, Walnut Grove, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 21.

SHIP volunteer counselors will be available at those days and times to help Medicare beneficiaries compare and select drug plans for 2020. Those seeking assistance should bring their Medicare cards and detailed lists of medications (with dosages) or the prescription bottles. Those attending will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis, so there may be waits as individual sessions could last up to an hour.