If asked to describe Open Enrollment for Medicare time between October 15 and December 7, my descriptive words might include roller coaster, rocket ship, and running shoes. While other folks are thinking about goblins and ghosts and pumpkin patches, I’m bidding farewell to family and friends, canceling anything that even resembles rest or entertainment, putting on my Medicare hat and most comfortable shoes, and heading off to help 65-plusers claw their way through the nightmare we all call the annual “changes to Medicare.”

For 2014 you can expect only minor changes in Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans. In fact, the doughnut hole — the coverage gap in which you pay out-of-pocket for drugs — continues to shrink for both brand name (bigger discounts) and generic (higher federal subsidy) drugs.

Don’t let minor changes in Premium costs fool you into complacency though. Premiums are similar to 2013, but you may see higher co-payments, smaller pharmacy networks, and changes in drug tiers that could boost your out-of-pocket costs. We can help you quickly determine which available plans in our area cover your prescriptions so you make the best possible choices for 2014.

Oh, and in addition to United Healthcare, we now offer Humana and Aetna Medicare plans. Remember that our running shoes stayed glued to our feet until the close of business on December 7. Call us at 513-451-8131 or drop in to the Store. Here’s a map.