POMEROY — Meigs Medicare beneficiaries who need assistance in understanding the different options and assistance available to them are encouraged to attend the “Medicare Check-up Day” to be held Tuesday at the Senior Citizens Center.

Beginning at 10 a.m. representatives of the Ohio Department of Insurance through its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) will be at the Center to help beneficiaries, family members and caregivers understand their options and assist with plan selection.

The program is free and unbiased and is geared to provide people with the information they need to make the right selection of plan. No appointment is necessary.

OSHIIP is conducting Medicare Check-up Days in each of Ohio’s 88 counties to complement Medicare’s annual “coordinated election” period which started this week and ends Dec. 31. Coverage secured during this period will begin Jan. 1, 2010.

During the coordinated election period, people on Medicare can select one of several coverage options:

• Original Medicare for their health coverage needs paired 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 existing coverage already meets their health insurance needs.

Plan benefits may change each year, so Ohioans are encouraged to contact OSIRIP for a plan review. In addition, financial assistance is available to those with limited income.

At each Check-Up Day event OSHHP representatives will discuss changes to Medicare and preventative benefits, how to manage expenses during the Part D coverage “doughnut hole” or gap in coverage, share information on financial assistance available to those with limited income, advise beneficiaries if they can coordinate other coverage and also run comparison reports on various plans. OSHIIP can help beneficiaries enroll in their Medicare coverage of choice starting Nov. 15.

Those attending the Check-up Day are asked to take along a list of their prescriptions drugs, dosages and preferred pharmacy, as well as any information on pension, VA or other medical care benefits they are receiving.