Open enrollment deadline is Dec. 31

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson is reminding Medicare beneficiaries that the open enrollment or “annual coordinated election” period for 2010 Medicare coverage, which started on Nov. 15, ends at midnight on Dec. 31. The Department – through its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) – is urging beneficiaries to call the OSHIIP hotline at 1 (800) 686-1578 and 1 (800) MEDICARE (1 (800) 633-4277) for plan and enrollment help. Coverage will begin Jan. 1.

“This is the time for beneficiaries to assure they select a plan that best fits their needs in the upcoming year,” Hudson said. “The Department’s OSHIIP Medicare experts can help beneficiaries understand the different coverage options, run plan comparison reports and provide enrollment assistance.”

During the Medicare open enrollment period people on Medicare can select one of several coverage options: Original Medicare; original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement and/or with a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan; a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits including drug coverage; or determine if their current coverage is still the best choice for 2010.

For a complete listing of available Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, visit www.medicare.gov. Those with Medicare questions and those who need enrollment assistance and/or information about financial assistance programs can call OSHIIP at 1 (800) 686-1578 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Medicare at 1 (800) MEDICARE [1 (800) 633-4227], 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.

New holiday hours are set

The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced today that driver examinations stations throughout the state will modify the hours and days of operation for the week of the Christmas holiday.

All exam stations will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, through Thursday, Dec. 24, and closed Friday, Dec. 25 through Monday, Dec. 28. Regular days and hours of operation will return on Tuesday, Dec. 29.

Santa Express visits West Portsmouth

The Santa Express of West Portsmouth will be going around the West Portsmouth area starting at 5 p.m. Saturday starting at Poole Street, stopping at any intersections, continuing on around Fairview and Beekman Avenue, then on around to Custus Street. turning on Fourth Street past the fire station, then out Third Street to Calverts Lane and then returning back to the township lot.