Spotlight on Business: Oct. 27, 2023 | News

Kinney Drugs partnership to offer free Medicare Part D Plan comparisons

GOUVERNEUR — Kinney Drugs, a 100% employee-owned community pharmacy chain in New York and Vermont, has partnered with Health Plan One and Enliven Health to offer free Medicare Part D plan comparisons.

Approximately 60 million seniors age 65+ are covered by Medicare, which is nearly 20% of the U.S. population.

Open enrollment, which is Oct.15 to Dec. 7 each year, can be overwhelming. Seniors have a little more than eight weeks to decide if they want to continue in their current Medicare Part D plan into 2024, or if a different plan would be more advantageous considering their prescriptions and goals.

All in, there are approximately 800 plans from which to choose. Seniors need to consider several factors, such as whether they take specific drugs or generics, if they want extra peace of mind on future drug costs, would like to balance expenses throughout the year, and/or whether they want lower costs that are sometimes available when choosing healthcare and prescription drug coverage from a single plan.

Kinney Drugs has partnered with Health Plan One and Enliven Health to help seniors navigate this process either online or by phone. First, seniors can call 1-844-653-5063 to speak with a licensed Medicare insurance agent. They would then provide the agent with their date of birth and a Kinney prescription number.

The agent can help them find the plan that best suits their needs based on their current medications and goals. Seniors do not have to use a Kinney pharmacy to take advantage of this free service. In that case, they would simply tell the agent all the prescriptions filled at other pharmacies to get their plan comparison.

As a second option, seniors can visit www.NavigateMyCare.com/Kinney, click FIND A PLAN, and follow the prompts. They would need their date of birth and a Kinney prescription number.

If they use a different pharmacy, they can enter their medications manually. The comparison tool will then show them various available plans and what each would cost considering their medications. Again, there is no cost for the service.

“Kinney Drugs has built our business and our reputation on taking excellent care of people,” said John Marraffa, R.Ph., President.

“We know that open enrollment can be stressful for seniors, and we are excited to offer this service that makes it easier to compare and select a plan that will achieve their goals.”

PRIDE of Ticonderoga allocates funds to community initiativesTICONDEROGA — Demonstrating its unwavering commitment to nurturing the community’s core values and developmental priorities, Pride of Ticonderoga has channeled an impressive $6,980 from its Community Fund to key community initiatives.

Supported by private donations, the Adirondack for Kids grant, Sylvamo and Pivot Energy, the fund has recently enabled allocations of $4,080 to the Town of Ticonderoga’s Summer Youth Program, $2,000 to the annual Fall Fest and $900 to support Ticonderoga’s fall sports teams.

“More than just financial support, these allocations represent our belief in Ticonderoga’s potential and our dedication to unlocking it,” executive director Nicole Justice Green said.

“Our Community Fund is the vehicle through which we, along with our partners and donors, invest in the town’s future. We’re building bridges, creating opportunities, and sowing seeds for a brighter tomorrow.”

The investment in the Summer Youth Program is pivotal, paving the way for more young minds to access enriching summer experiences, essential for personal and social development.

The Fall Fest, a linchpin of Ticonderoga’s cultural identity, receives a much-needed boost to celebrate local talents, artists and businesses.

Meanwhile, the backing for the Jr/Sr High School fall sports teams speaks volumes about the significance of athletic programs in fostering discipline, camaraderie, and local pride among the youth.

“These funds go beyond monetary value. They’re the foundation of dreams, aspirations, and the promising future of Ticonderoga,” Justice Green said.

Beyond these recent allocations, the Community Fund has previously supported transformative projects that resonate deeply with the Ticonderoga community.

Past contributions include the notable Capital Ice Rink improvements from last winter, generous contributions to “Friends Comforting Friends” and the construction of the new Black Point Beach Playground — a project poised to offer residents a fresh recreational space and boost local tourism — which broke ground recently.