Medicare open enrollment looms
Are You Prepared for Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period? It’s Oct. 15-Dec. 7.
Medicare can be confusing. How will you choose the best plan(s) to fit your unique health needs?
At this time of year, Medicare recipients are receiving notices from their current plans and mailings from other companies offering their plans. Even though it may seem overwhelming to read through the information, it is important. It’s the time of year to re-evaluate your coverage to be sure it will meet your health care needs going forward, learn whether your prescriptions are still covered in 2019 and understand any changes that occurred in your current plans.
Pennsylvania offers a free health insurance counseling program designed to help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare: APPRISE Medicare Counselors.
In Montgomery County, statetrained counselors volunteer through RSVP (610) 834-1040 x.120. In Delaware County, counselors are available through Senior Community Services (SCS) 484-494-3769 and in Chester County, services are offered through the Department of Aging 610-344-5004. Counselors answer your questions and provide you with confidential, objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance and Medicaid so that you can make a more informed decision about your choices.
Some of the key mailings you should have or will shortly receive are:
• Annual Notice of Change: This is sent if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare Part D plan and will include any changes to your current plan’s coverage, cost or service area.
• Evidence of Coverage: This lengthy document contains detailed information about what your current plan covers. This document has been mailed in the past but will now only be available on the website unless a copy is requested. You should receive a Notification of Electronic Materials notice that will explain how to obtain hard copies of documents.
• Medicare and You Handbook: Sent by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this handbook includes valuable information about coverage.
• Notice of Plan Termination: If your Medicare Part D or Extra Help Plan will not be available in 2019, you will receive this notice from CMS.
A great website to explore is www.Medicare.gov. You can create your own account, store medical records, sign up for Medicare for the first time at age 65, check or compare drug costs, find out which procedures are covered, find and research medical providers in your area and more.
If you are about to turn 65, you should know that enrollment in Medicare is not automatic. If you are still working and are covered under your employer’s plan and your company has 20+ employees, you do not need to enroll in Medicare (always check with your employer.) If you are turning 65 and are collecting social security, you will automatically be enrolled. Otherwise, you will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A (hospital in-patient coverage), B (outpatient services) and D (prescription plan). You may enroll anytime three months prior to your actual birthday in order for benefits to be in place on your birthday.
You must enroll in Medicare A and B no later than three months after your 65th birthday or as soon as you are no longer covered by your employer’s plan or you will pay a late penalty on both plans every month for the rest of your life.
APPRISE counselors are available to not only help you select the best plan to suit your current or anticipated needs but they may be able to save you money. Some people with lower incomes qualify for programs that reduce Medicarerelated costs. The federal program Extra Help also known as Low Income Subsidy helps with prescription drug costs. The state-Pace/ Pacenet program also helps with copays, coinsurance, deductibles and premiums. Some pharmaceutical companies offer discounts for people who qualify.
To schedule an appointment with a counselor please refer to the phone numbers listed above. To learn about counseling sites in Montgomery County visit www. rsvpmc.org. For information about Delaware County sites visit www.delcosa.org and for Chester County, visit www.chesco.org.