Your mailbox probably has been filed in recent weeks with not only political ads, but also information from dozens of insurance companies trying to persuade you to sign up with their plans for prescription drugs. Should you change?

If you are like many people, you are thinking that the way your prescription drugs get paid is working fine and to change is a real hassle – so you’ll just forget it.

New plans come along every year. Sometimes they offer better coverage and sometimes you could save money.

Any changes to Medicare prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage Plans need to be made during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which ends on Friday, Dec. 7.

There will be 28 prescription drug plans from which Mainers may choose their 2013 plan.

Many Medicare D (prescription drug) plans change their premiums and the medications covered with each new year. It is important to confirm that the plan chosen will provide the best prescription drug coverage depending on the person’s medications.

Also, of the 28 plans, 13 plans have increased their premiums and 11 have decreased their premiums. Four plans end for 2013 and four new plans have been added. Of the Medicare Advantage Plans offered in Maine, 12 provide prescription drug benefits and their medications covered or premiums may also change.

Already, the idea of switching plans is becoming confusing – to me, anyway.

Mainers on Medicare are advised to make an appointment with their local area Agency on Aging to review their options for 2013. The Southern Maine Agency on Aging provides unbiased help with making decisions about Medicare options, because Maine’s five area agencies on aging do not sell insurance.

“We recommend that all Medicare beneficiaries review their drug plans every year, because premiums and benefits may change,” says Larry Gross, executive director of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging. Gross emphasizes that comparison data is only available on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid website.

“We’d rather have older adults and adults with disabilities save insurance costs, over which they have some control, in order to pay for essentials like food and heat. The last thing we want to see is Maine people going without food or running out of heat, because they were spending more than they needed to on their drug plan and the associated out-of-pocket co-pays.”

Below is a list of the location, day and time of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Open Enrollment sessions. Call statewide, toll-free 877-353-3771 to make an appointment.

Biddeford, McArthur Library – Call Linda Sprague-Lambert at 776-4759; Monday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.

Bridgton Hospital – Tuesday, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m.; no appointment necessary

Bridgton Community Center – Thursday, Nov. 29; Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Freeport Community Library – Thursday, Nov. 29; Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Gorham, St. Anne’s Church – Thursday, Nov. 29; Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Naples Library – Tuesday, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saco Community Center, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Scarborough, Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Route 1 – Tuesday, Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Windham, Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Tuesday, Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Westbrook Community Center – Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sanford, Goodall Hospital – Tuesday, Nov. 27; Dec. 4, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

South Portland Community Center – Friday, Nov. 2 and 16, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

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