Insurance News - Medicare: A benefit for those 65-plus [Michigan Chronicle (MI)]
by admin on Nov.28, 2011, under Travel insurance
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is earlier this year, Oct. 15 - Dec. 7. Mark your calendars!
The mailboxes of consumers who are 65 and older - or who are about to turn 65 - have been filling up with correspondence from the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the dozens of health plans that offer prescription drug coverage. The reason? The official Medicare Annual Enrollment Period gets under way Oct. 15, an earlier start date with an earlier deadline, Dec. 7. If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you have the option to change your Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug plan during this time.
If you are currently enrolled in a Part D Plan, you should monitor your mail for any notices concerning your carriers’ plans for 2012. If you are considering a change to your Part D coverage, it would be wise to compare several available plans since changes cannot be made after the Annual Enrollment Period ends. When comparing Part D Plans for 2012, consider the following:
* Is the plan affordable?
* Are your medications included in the Part D formulary?
* Are co-pay amounts competitive?
* Is a deductible required?
* Are your drugs placed in the same tier as other plans?
* Is your pharmacy “in network”?
* Does the plan have a mail order option that adds value?
It’s up to you as a beneficiary - or as a caregiver - to be proactive and handle Medicare enrollments within the allotted time frame. Don’t be among those who do not recognize that the 2012 Medicare Part D enrollment period has changed. Responsibility rests with you.
The handbook, “Medicare and You 2012,” is mailed to all Medicare households with a summary of Medicare benefits, rights and protections. It lists health and drug plans available in this area, and it answers frequently asked questions about Medicare. Information is also available online at www.medicare.gov.
You’ll also have the opportunity to attend community meetings on Medicare, some sponsored by the Michigan Medicare/ Medicaid Assistance Program at agencies like the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, and some sponsored by health plans that would like to someday recruit you as a member as they work to increase your understanding of Medicare right now. Again, your responsibility as a consumer is to get as much information as possible to make informed decisions.
If you are newly eligible for Medicare, focus on what coverage is most important to you at a price you can afford. Some people require a choice of doctors, specialty care and referrals. For others, coverage for eyeglasses, hearing aids or dental care may be more important. Some people travel or spend time in other places for months at a time. For them, the need for routine or catastrophic care may differ when they are away. And for many others, prescription drug coverage is most important.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Talk to friends and family members about their experiences with Medicare and various supplemental insurance plans. And don’t wait until the Dec. 7 deadline to make your decisions about Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D drug coverage.
Throughout the year, counselors with the Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Program at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging provide free, personal assistance to help you navigate Medicare options. For information or an appointment, call 1-800-803-7174.
Paul Bridgewater, President and CEO, Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA), hosts “The Senior Solution” on WGPR 107.5FM, Saturdays at 10 a.m. DAAA is located at 1333 Brewery Park Blvd., Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48207; (313) 446-4444; www.daaala.org.
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