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MARQUETTE -- If you're a senior citizen on either Medicare or Medicaid, there's a chance you're paying more than you should be for coverage.  There's also a chance that your current coverage plan may be changing or may be cut altogether in 2010.

Today in Marquette, the Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program, also known as MMAP, hosted a seminar to field questions on these topics.

"My husband and I stopped by.  We had heard that there was some information on Medicare and Medicaid, and I have some elderly parents, and I'm trying to understand the program so I can help them make some decisions," said Susan Kruger.

She's come to the right place.  MMAP employs 42 counselors in the U.P. alone to answer seniors' questions on Medicare, Medicaid and prescription drug coverage.

"I think people get very confused about their options and what might be best for them, and so we sit down with folks one-on-one and take their information and help them navigate the system so that they can make an informed health care decision," said Sherry Whitman, U.P. MMAP Coordinator.

If you're interested in health benefits counseling from MMAP, it's important that you act soon.  Changes in your Medicare plan for the 2010 calendar year can only be made between November 15 and December 31.

"And then January rolls around and they find out that their plan isn't working the way it used to or it's costing them more, and in January it's too late to change.  It's too late for us to help them.  They're pretty much stuck with that plan for another year," Whitman said.

There are several ways to get in touch with MMAP for assistance.  You can call their office at 1-800-803-7174.  You can visit them online at www.mmapinc.org.  Counselors are also available every Wednesday at the Peter White Library in Marquette. 

MMAP is hosting another seminar on December 2 at Bay College in Escanaba.