• For senior citizens, the most important decision you will make this fall comes in the form of choosing the most appropriate Medicare coverage options for next year.
• Medicare's 2013 open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2012. For most current enrollees, that's the only time to make coverage changes for the coming calendar year (exceptions are made if you later move outside your plan's service area, qualify for financial assistance or a few other situations).
• Several changes to Medicare take effect in 2013, including:
• Medicare Part D participants who reach the so-called doughnut hole coverage gap will begin receiving a 52.5 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 21 percent discount on generics, compared to 2012's 50/14 percent rates.
• Medicare will begin covering additional preventive and screening services, including assessments and counseling for depression, alcohol misuse, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
• A redesigned Medicare Summary Notice, which explains what your doctor/ provider billed for, the Medicare-approved amount, what Medicare paid, and what you must pay.
• Medicare also recently overhauled its website (www.medicare.gov), adding many new features and simplifying the language and site navigation. For example:
• The homepage now provides direct links for common tasks like applying for Medicare, changing plans, calculating costs, researching what different plans cover and more.
• Search for whether a specific test, item or service is covered under Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
• Quick links to replace a lost Medicare card, find a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or prescription drug plan (Part D).
• Find doctors and other health professionals, nursing homes, hospitals, home health services and health/drug plans, and make side-by-side comparisons of costs and care provided.

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