Ask the Medicare Specialist
QUESTION:
Annual Election Period is over. What do people on Medicare need to be aware of during the year?
ANSWER:
I think one of the biggest mistakes those on Medicare can make is to just sit back and wait for the bills to come in. In today’s health care climate, we need to be proactive in so many areas.
The first is ensuring you have the best value in Medicare plan regarding benefits and premiums, whether you have an Advantage Plan HMO/PPO or Supplement. This past AEP, with only a handful of exceptions, we didn’t recommend anyone take and Advantage Plan that was over $60/month. We also almost never advised clients to choose plans with a “per stay” hospital co-pay that can result in bills between $700 and $1,800 for a four to sixday admission. If you don’t have a plan that meets these criteria, you have some comparing to do and still may be able to make a change for 2020. Many people qualify for SEPs (Special Election Periods) that allow a change in Medicare Advantage Plans anytime during the year. You may also be able to move from an Advantage Plan to an HMO as well. With a quick call to the office or an email we can let you know if you may be eligible. Don’t assume you won’t! Part D prescription plans can also be changed using an SEP. This was a critical year to look over plans as two of the most popular had major changes. One company more than doubled their premiums to almost $60, while another who had a $0 deductible the past few years, now has one of almost $400. Many people are going to be caught off guard by that. Again, check with us to see if you can save money by moving to another Part D plan. 95% of our clients are only paying between $13 and $22 for Part D in 2020. Supplements can be changed year-round and are not restricted by Enrollment Periods. We are recommending almost everyone consider Plan N if they qualify to make a change, which I have written about in my last two columns. Plans F and C are an absolute rip-off. We are also quite concerned that rates for Plan G are going to go up rapidly in the coming years. One item I didn’t mention in my last column that was brought to my attention by a client, is G will be the new plan for those who have Guarantee Issue (GI). In the past it was F. Those who get GI rights don’t have to go through underwriting and have their medical history taken into consideration like many others do. This is generally a less healthy demographic and higher utilizers of medical services which results in Supplement companies paying out more claims, therefore causing higher rate increases.
A horribly common mistake is seniors paying erroneous bills and why it’s so important for those on Advantage Plans to understand what your co-pays are for all medical services. I can’t even comprehend how much money is wasted paying bogus medical bills in the US. Always question any bill that has even the slightest appearance of being wrong. Call your insurance company first to see what they say prior to sending a check. And don’t take, “that’s just the way it is” as an answer. Our clients don’t have to stress about making those calls, getting transferred back and forth, or getting different explanations from different people within the same company. They simply hand the task of researching questionable bills over to their agent or our dedicated support staff to take care of. I wish we would have kept track of the dollar amount in bills we discovered to be erroneous since The Health Insurance Store opened in 2007. I’m quite sure we saved our clients over $100,000. Watching and keeping track of your prescription drug costs is also something that needs to be done from the first day of the year. Be proactive about doing everything you can to avoid the “Doughnut Hole.” With the average brand name drug now retailing for $400-$500, it won’t take long to get there, especially if you are taking multiple brand name drugs or more costly generics. See about getting samples of your more expensive drugs from your doctor, look into Canadian Pharmacies who can often offer costs less than your co-pays, and check and see if your generics may be less expensive without using insurance. Good Rx is a great tool for that. There are also foundations available that can help offset costs for those who do reach the Doughnut Hole. If you would like some tips or advice regarding prescription drugs, feel free to reach out to us.
Lastly, educate yourself. There’s never a bad time to do that. You can contact any of our agents or myself with questions or concerns. You can also make an appointment for a no-cost consultation at any time during the year. Even if you aren’t able to make a change, we welcome you to sit down with us and learn about the intricacies of Medicare, including the difference between Advantage Plans and Supplements.
You can also follow us on Facebook for updates on new events in healthcare. Very soon I will also be doing webcasts and interviewing those who are on the front lines of the crazy health care world we find ourselves in today.
I would like to thank those who faithfully read the columns and/or patronized my agency in the last two years! I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2020!