The Medicare Information Office and its satellite offices around the state will be available for consultation during the annual enrollment period, October 15 through December 7. If your prescription insurance coverage is a Medicare Part D Plan, this is the ideal time to get out your red, white and blue Medicare card and a list of your prescriptions and have a counselor do a plan comparison to advise you of your choices for 2014. We’ll also check on whether you might qualify for the “extra help” program which greatly reduces your out of pocket costs for medications.

Some points to remember about Medicare part D Plans for Alaska in 2014:

• 28 plans will be available

• $12.50 is the lowest monthly premium for a prescription drug plan

• eleven Part D plans will have no premium costs for people who qualify for Extra Help/Medicaid

• more than half (58 percent) of people with Medicare Part D get Extra Help.

Contact information for Medicare Information Offices:

Anchorage Anchorage Senior Center Medicare Office, 770-2027

Kenai Independent Living Center, 262-6333

Fairbanks Access Alaska, 479-7940

Statewide Toll-free, 1-800-478-6065

Judith Bendersky directs the Alaska Medicare Information Office.