New cards, other good news for Medicare beneficiaries
Here’s some good news! Starting in April, the government will be mailing out new Medicare ID Cards, which will no longer include your Social Security number. Instead, the card will have a new Medicare number made up of a random mix of 11 numbers and letters. Your benefits remain the same; nothing changes in your coverage. The new card will help to minimize much of the identity theft and fraud that occurs because this information exists today on the Medicare ID card.
You do not need to do anything to receive your new card, you do not need to activate the card once you receive it and you do not need to confirm your identity or Medicare number. There is no fee to get the new card. You may begin using your new card as soon you receive it.
Scammers posing as Medicare representatives have begun to call asking for information, so be aware that you should never give your information to anyone who calls you on the phone.
Understanding the complexities of Medicare can be quite an undertaking. Determining the best combination of plans takes research and expertise. RSVP provides state-trained APPRISE Medicare counselors to the public. Their sessions are completely free and confidential. No question is too big or too small. Counselors offer one-on-one sessions or can address a group.
Last year alone, RSVP’s APPRISE counselors provided free counseling sessions or presentations to 4,500 local seniors about their best options in Medicare coverage.
There is more good news. The Bipartisan Budget Act signed into law on Feb. 9 features some positive changes to Medicare. The “doughnut hole” (the gap in prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D) is closing in 2019 instead of 2020, thereby decreasing the amount people have to pay to 25 percent of the prescription cost. This is especially good news for the almost 25 percent of people enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription plans who reach the coverage gap.
RSVP’s APPRISE counselors report that one of the most difficult issues to resolve is about paying for essential yet expensive medications. Seniors who cannot afford their medications sometimes take them less frequently than prescribed or not at all in order to save money. APPRISE counselors are knowledgeable about resources to provide assistance as well as advice regarding how to avoid falling into the dreaded “doughnut hole.” Ending the cov-
erage gap (doughnut hole) a year early will bring additional relief.
Medicare has financial assistance programs for low-income seniors who qualify for Extra Help to lower prescription premiums and co-pays. The total monthly income limit to qualify is $1,518 for single people and for married couples is $2,058 or less.
The public is invited to contact an RSVP APPRISE counselor to learn about qualifying and to apply at rsvpmc.org/apprise or by calling 610-834-1040 ext. 120.
And there is still more good news! The Budget Act permanently ends the limits on how much Medicare will pay for physical, speech and occupational therapy for patients who suffer from conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes or chronic illness. In 2017, Medicare beneficiaries who reached the cap of $2,010 for physical and/or speech language therapy combined worried they might not be able to afford continued treatment.
RSVP’s APPRISE program coordinator Donna Uhler reported, “Jerry had to stop receiving direct treatment from a physical therapist a little more than a year after his back surgery in 2017 because he had reached the Medicare imposed annual cap on rehab services. He still needed treatment but would have had to pay for it out of pocket.”
With the removal of this cap, Jerry now is able to continue treatment uninterrupted.
Whether you are just turning 65 and are new to Medicare, are helping an eligible family member or already enrolled but find you need help understanding your healthcare choices, APPRISE counselors can put your mind at ease.
APPRISE is Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The Pennsylvania Department of Aging created APPRISE to help Pennsylvania residents understand their Medicare and other health insurance benefits and assist citizens in making informed decisions about their health care options. APPRISE works individually and confidentially with clients to determine their individual health care needs and preferences, compare health insurance options, plan ahead for long term living and obtain Medicare and supplemental coverage that fits their lifestyle, health issues and their budget. In Montgomery County, the APPRISE program is operated by RSVP.
RSVP is a multi-service nonprofit organization that provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to help meet critical human needs in our local communities. In 2017, RSVP volunteers provided services that supported 11,000 vulnerable residents. Programs help children and adults learn to read, tutor students and veterans in math virtually, assist low-income seniors, support families in need, mentor at-risk students, provide Medicare counseling and offer services to increase the capacity of local nonprofits.
RSVP hosts ongoing information sessions to expose adults to hundreds of worthwhile and important volunteer choices. Sessions are held throughout Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and outline the varied possibilities. To learn about volunteering through RSVP or to find an upcoming Volunteer Information Session, visit rsvpmc.org or call 610-8341040 ext. 123.