The University of Pacific School of Pharmacy & Health Services has a proven 13-year track record of saving 8 out of every 10 people they advise during their free Medicare Health Fair for seniors and other beneficiaries money on their out-of-pocket Part D  costs.

The free outreach health fair is coming to Manteca for the first time this Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Northgate Community Church, 650 Northgate Drive.

The services available for free to area residents including those in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop are:

a review of your Medicare part D Plan to see if they can lower your drug costs based on your health need, medication us, and preferred pharmacy.

a review of your drugs to ensure they are safe to take together.

health screening services including cholesterol, blood pressure, bone density, cholesterol, diabetes, memory, risk for falls, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, asthma/COPD, and more.

distributing Naloxone nasal spray to those at risk of an opioid overdose.

drug take back envelopes for expired, unused or unwanted medication as well as sharps containers for those using injectable products along with a list of drop-off locations within the county.

Patel last year during a presentation before the Manteca Rotary noted that every Part D insurance plan is different. He added that while there were six Medicare Part D insurance plans were offered in 2018 in San Joaquin County the number jumped to 13 this year.

To help with your Medicare Part D plan or for a complete review of your medications you are urged to make an appointment by calling (209) 824-5780. While appointments aren’t required they are highly recommended.

“Medicare is like an onion, the more layers you peel, the more you want to cry,” Patel told the Rotarians in describing how complicated trying to navigate insurance plans can be.

Patel noted that 83 percent of the 63 million Americans who are 65 years or older and eligible use Medicare Part D.

The screening Saturday will determine what plans offer the prescriptions an individual is currently taking and at what cost.

Those attending the screenings will need their Medicare card, all of their medications, and a copy of their most recent lab values.

Even if your plan currently offers your prescriptions every plan changes the list of drugs they cover each year as well as how much you will pay.

Based on past screenings conducted by UOP, 8 out of 10 beneficiaries have been able to save money on their Part D drug costs.

For more information go to go.pacific.edu/Medicare.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com