Save money during Medicare open enrollment: It begins today

 Medicare's open-enrollment period begins on Oct. 15 and ends on Dec. 7.

Tom Bryan is the sales director from United Health's medicare solutions, he tells News 96.5 now is the opportunity to make changes in your plan for 2016.

The open-enrollment period applies to people who have previously signed up for Medicare, which includes individuals age 65 and older and certain younger people who qualify due to a disability.

Special enrollment rules apply for the calendar year during which you attain age 65.

By now, most Medicare beneficiaries have received notices of premium increases for 2016 and any notices of changes in coverage. You'll want to carefully review these communications to see how they might affect you.

In addition to premium increases, you might see the following changes this year:

• Increases in co-payments, co-insurance and out-of-pocket limits.
• Health care providers being dropped or added.
• Changes in prescription drug "formularies," which identify the reimbursement schedule for specific drugs.

There is assistance at  Medicare's website.  It contains a wealth of information, including an online plan shopper and tools to find doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. 

Also our consumer warrior Clark Howard has tips on how to save money while shopping for medicare coverage.   Clark tells us you should  allow for at least five hours a year to plan for medical insurance.  Click here for tips.