St Vincent’s Sponsor  Medicare Part D Counseling

BRIDGEPORT — St Vincent’s Medical Center is sponsoring “Making Sense About Medicare Part D,” a series of informational lectures to help area residents understand Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage and enable them to save money on medicine.

 The lectures, which are free and open to the general public, will be presented from 2 to 4pm in the Hawley Conference Center of St Vincent’s Medical Center on three Wednesdays: January 11, February 15 and February 22.

Featured speakers will be a representative from the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging (SWAAA), and Gerd Weindling, a Medicare counselor certified by CHOICES, a federal government program under the auspices of SWAAA. Mr Weindling has served as St Vincent’s Medicare/health insurance counselor for ten years.

 “The lectures should help seniors determine the right choice regarding the Medicare Part D prescription plan and instruct them on how to enroll in order to save money,” says Mr Weindling. “We can help them clarify which plan will be most beneficial.”

The new drug plan took effect January 1, 2006, and is available to anyone who has Medicare. If seniors do not have any drug coverage at all, then Medicare’s new prescription plan can cover a significant part of drug costs. If seniors already have coverage, they can sign up if they think it will save them money. The lectures will provide information to assist them in making this decision.

At the lecture series, a question and answer period will be included.

Free parking is available and light refreshments will be served.

In addition to the upcoming lectures, Mr Weindling also offers one-on-one counseling on Medicare and health insurance concerns to the public on a weekly basis every Wednesday from 10 am to noon. On the first Wednesday of the month, the program is presented at St Vincent’s Wellness Booth located on the lower level of Westfield Shoppingtown Trumbull near Macy’s entrance. All other Wednesdays he meets with participants in the Level 2 South Conference Room at St Vincent’s Medical Center.

To register for the lectures or for more information on the lecture series or weekly counseling sessions, call St Vincent’s toll-free Care Line at 877-255-SVHS (7847).