MEDICARE ENROLLMENT UNDER WAY UNTIL APRIL 1

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Between now and April 1, eligible people can sign up for Medicare medical insurance.

The open enrollment period is set aside each year to allow people to change their minds if they have never signed up for medical insurance or had it before and dropped it.

Medical insurance helps pay doctor bills, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical items and services not covered by the hospital insurance part of Medicare.

For people who enroll now, medical insurance protection starts July 1, 1991. The basic premium rate this year is $29.90 a month.

It is increased by 10 percent for each year a person could have had it but was not enrolled.

Questions about Medicare can be answered by calling the Medicare toll-free telephone number, 1-800-888-1770.

To sign up for medical insurance or get other Social Security information, people should contact their Social Security Office.