Office of Aging offers guidance on “flex cards” at Kane Senior Center

Kane—navigating the world of Medicare benefits can be a difficult task, especially when faced with misleading advertisements and confusing eligibility criteria. In a seminar held at the Kane Senior Center on May 14, Kellie Rusciolelli, a representative from the Office of Aging, shed light on the “flex card” or “grocery card”. The discussion aimed to educate seniors on who qualifies for the cards and what's included with their healthcare coverage.

One of the key takeaways of the seminar was that every plan is different. Coverages vary from state to state, even from the same company. She said that just because someone else has coverage, yours may be different.

Her class began with an overview of the various Medicare plans available, including “Original Medicare”,

Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Supplemental plans. Rusciolelli stressed the importance of understanding the differences between these plans and which plans allow for additional benefits like the cards. Generally, Medicare Advantage plans come with one of the cards and original Medicare plans do not.

There are many types of cards and they go by different names such as flex card, OTC card, spend account, flex spend account, and grocery card. She clarified that to be eligible for the grocery card specifically, individuals must be dual eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare. This means meeting specific income and asset requirements to qualify for both programs simultaneously.rusciolelli went on to explain the types of Medicare Advantage plans, such as the Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP) and Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP), which offer extra benefits to dual eligible individuals. However, she cautioned that these plans are not available to everyone and are specifically designed for low-income, special needs individuals. If someone qualifies for these programs, they can sign up during open enrollment.

For those who already have one of the flex cards, which are typically from Medicare Advantage plans, Rusciolelli shared information on what might be included and how to use it. Again, every plan is different, but she gave an easy way to find out what benefits are covered—simply call the customer service phone number on the back of the card. The provider will be able to tell you exactly what is covered. In some cases they can help with ordering supplies right to your home if there isn't an included location nearby.

She explained that commercials on television, email, and mailings advertise certain benefits, but include vague language like “may”, “might”, and “could”. She criticized commercials for using scare tactics to lure unsuspecting individuals into switching plans by using deceptive marketing strategies.

Adding even more confusion, some use scare tactics urging quick action or benefits may be lost. She also highlighted the prevalence of scams targeting Medicare beneficiaries. Rusciolleli emphasized the importance of being cautious and not falling victim to these kinds of scams. She urged them not to be swayed by offers that seem too good to be true, reminding them that making informed decisions is crucial when it comes to choosing the right Medicare plan.

Kelly encouraged attendees to engage with community support, and to read plan materials thoroughly. She ended her talk with directions for a postcard that can be used to voice their opinions to senators to ensure their aging benefits remain intact.