Informational seminars will be held throughout the Lee Memorial Health System’s SHARE Club over the next few months to help educate and inform people about Medicare.

Jo Marshall, SHINE counselor volunteer, said she has 26 or 27 presentations booked to provide information to the public in seven counties regarding Medicare.

She has been a part of Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders/Department of Elder Affairs for 14 years and has provided the teaching seminar every year for the community. There are currently about 500 SHINE volunteers throughout Florida.

The seminar will provide information about Medicare and the new changes; what to look out for; where the pitfalls are; what the new drug program involves; Medicare Part C Advantage Program, along with all the options individuals have.

In addition, the seminar also will touch upon how to deal with appealing denied claims and drug prescriptions that may not have been covered when first signed up for a plan.

Marshall said it is about fighting your own battles and finding out who to complain to if treated poorly by any provider.

“It is kind of a foreign language to them,” Marshall said about Medicare.

The seminar will be divided into three parts, with the first portion discussing the options and changes of Medicare. The drug program will be the second item discussed.

Marshall said the drug program is the most difficult for anyone to understand – although it is a good program, it is badly written.

The last part of the seminar will discuss the Medicare Part C Advantage Program. She said she will inform individuals of what is out there, so they can make an informed decision of what they want.

Marshall said there are 10,000 new people entering Medicare every day, which is the more than have ever entered at one time.

“There is quite an education program going on now so people won’t make mistakes,” she said.

The open enrollment period for Medicare, Marshall said is from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

“If you want to make changes it has to be done between those dates,” she said.

She said individuals should look at their Medicare Part C Advantage Program every year because it can be negotiated on an annual basis. In addition, Marshall said the Medicare part D portion should also be looked at every year to compare and see if anything needs to be changed concerning prescription drugs.

The first of the seminars will be held at the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary Meeting Room, 636 Del Prado Blvd. on Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. Although there are 112 people signed up for the seminar at Cape Coral Hospital as of Tuesday, Marshall said there are seats still available.

The seminars also will be offered at Gulf Coast Medical Center Community Room, 13681 Doctor’s Way on Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.; Lee Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 2776 Cleveland Ave. on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. and HealthPark Medical Center room 1A, 9981 S. HealthPark Drive on Nov. 14 at 11 a.m.

Due to limited seating reservations are required by calling 239-424-3765.