If people covered by Medicare choose the wrong prescription drug plan under "Part D," they can end up spending thousands of dollars more than they need to.
Special clinics are being held to help Medicare recipients make the right choice.
University of the Pacific pharmacy students are helping seniors choose the right prescription drug plan under Medicare's Part D.
"And if we look at the annual cost of your medication, the newer option is $86.40," a student says during a clinic.
That's a saving of $4,000.
Associate Professor of pharmacy Dr. Rajul Patel says there are more than 30 different plans to choose from and that can be confusing.
"Nine out of ten seniors and others with Medicare are actually paying more for their prescription drugs than they have to and on average we find that's $900 annually," he says.
Patel says the free clinics are being held in eight cities including the Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton, Tracy, and Lodi from now through November.
Schedule Of Part D Clinics
Sacramento (Carmichael):
Oct. 24, Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Christ Community Church, 5025 Manzanita Ave.
Call for an appointment (916) 375-3301
Bay Area Clinics
Berkeley:
Oct. 18, Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St.
Call for an appointment: (510) 981-4100
San Jose:
Oct. 25, Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Seven Trees Community Center, 3590 Cas Drive
Call for an appointment: (209) 645-0235
San Francisco:
Nov. 8, Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St.
Call for an appointment: (415) 292-1200
Oakland:
Nov. 21, Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd.
Call for an appointment: (510) 343-2473
Central Valley Area Clinics
Lodi:
Oct. 29, Thursday, 1-6 p.m.
LOEL Senior Center, 105 S. Washington St.
Call for an appointment: (209) 369-1591
Nov. 17, Tuesday, 1-7 p.m.
Hutchins Street Square (Room: Kirst Hall), 125 S. Hutchins St.
Call for an appointment: (209) 333-5550
Stockton:
Oct. 17, Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 751 Brookside Road
Call for an appointment: (209) 946-7658
Oct. 20, Tuesday, 1-6 p.m.
Northeast Community Center, 2885 E. Harding Way
Call for an appointment: (209) 468-3918
Nov. 7, Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Merlo Gym, 2044 Fair St.
Call for an appointment: (209) 444-5555
Nov. 13, Friday, 1-6 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 3409 Brookside Road
Call for an appointment: (209) 951-8545
Nov. 15, Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
O'Connor Woods, 3400 Wagner Heights Road
Call for an appointment: (209) 956-3400
Tracy:
Oct. 27, Tuesday, 1 - 6 p.m.
Tracy Community Center, 950 East St.
Call for an appointment: (209) 831-4230
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