Drinking spiked eggnog, singing Christmas carols, lighting Hanukkah candles, roasting chestnuts by a roaring fire (okay I've been watching too many Turner Classic Movie selections), these are all signs of the upcoming holiday season that so many of us will be spending with our families later this month. Oh yes, and of course, figuring out the Medicare Part D options with our senior loved ones. (Hence, the spiking of the eggnog).

Anyone who has attended a Fearless Caregiver Conference over the years, knows that the events usually open with a lively Question and Answer forum dealing with whatever question an attendee wishes to ask. Until this fall, the show-stopper questions have always been of the "How do I get dad to stop driving?" variety. Once this topic is broached, the floodgates open and no other subject is discussed for the remainder of the session. This fall, the show-stopper has switched from the driving issue to a slew of Medicare Part D questions. So, I can almost guarantee you that the issue will arise around the dinner table. As we discussed a few weeks ago, the first thing to do is take a deep breath and try and get your loved ones to do the same thing. The deadline for signing up without penalty, unless and until it is changed to a later date, is May 15, 2006, and you can change providers once a year. (Breathing yet?).

My suggestion for a merry Prescription Part D holiday is to get a list of your loved ones medications in advance if possible, and plug their information into the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder on the Medicare.gov website. The plan finder will help narrow the choices which will make your job easier come Christmas night. And really, who wants to put together a bicycle, swing set and a prescription drug plan all in one evening.

Since I am presently helping my loved ones with their Prescription Drug plan options, save some of that eggnog for me.

 

Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com