Â鶹ŮÓÅ

You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by doing some smart shopping for your health care coverage under Medicare. During Medicare's open-enrollment period, which begins on Oct. 15 and ends on Dec. 7, you have the opportunity to make changes in your plan for 2016. Many people don't bother to shop for a plan and automatically re-enroll in their current one, but doing so might cost you an opportunity to save money next year. (Vernon, 10/13)

As you choose benefits during open enrollment, it's worth checking up on the coverage in your dental plan. Dental insurance is usually cheap. The most popular kind of group plan costs just $32 a month, on average, and three-fourths of employers help pay the tab, according to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP). That cuts the average employee premium down to about half the original cost -- or even less. But you get what you pay for. The coverage is awful. Still, if your employer subsidizes your coverage, you probably should take it, says Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the NADP. The plan likely covers routine care, such as cleanings and exams every six months, and most of the cost of basic procedures, such as filling a cavity. (Cross, 10/13)