Posts tagged 'medicare open enrollment'
The Medicare open enrollment cycle for existing beneficiaries occurs annually during the last six weeks of the year (November 15th through December 31st). The changes made during this time period will go into effect January 10th of the New Year.
During this time period, Medicare beneficiaries have the choice to go with traditional Medicare only, a Medicare supplement insurance plan or to sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.
After the beneficiary has made a decision, he or she has until March 31st to switch plans. If not change his made before this date, the plan will remain intact until the following year's open enrollment season.
Users have the ability to keep their existing Medicare Advantage plans by doing nothing. To make changes, users can enroll at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
What should you do before making a decision?
First off, be sure to review your current health and prescription drug plans. The costs for plans will change annually so you need to know your current benefits and pricing. You can then compare your existing Medicare plan with other ones to see if you can find a better choice. If you want to keep the existing plan, you do not have to do anything. It will rollover at the end of the open enrollment period.
If you decide to make a change to your health insurance plans, it is best to do it as soon as possible. This will help you avoid any confusion at your local pharmacy when the new plans go into effect in January.
When you have chosen the new plan (if you do), you should join with one of the following methods:
Sign Up with a Paper Medicare Application: The company that is handing your plan will have an application. You can fill it out and send it back by mail, fax or possibly email.
Visit the Plan Website: Find the website for the plan you have chosen and complete an online application.
Go to the Medicare Website: There are many drug plans available on the official Medicare website. There is a chance though that the plan you have chosen will not be available here so you may have to use another application choice.
You Can Call the Company Directly: If you have the phone number for the Medicare drug plan company you can normally call and enroll by phone.
Call Medicare: As a final resort, you can call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and enroll by phone. This is by far the most difficult and time-consuming option and should be kept as a last resort.
What Information is needed to join a Medicare Drug Plan?
If you are ready to join, you will need the following items to complete your enrollment:
- Your personal information (full name, address, date of birth, etc.)
- The information on your Medicare Card
- The premium payment option
- Any other insurance information.
- Your social security number (optional)
- Your Email address (optional)
- A Name and Phone Number for an Emergency Contact
- The contact information for the nursing home or assisted living facility you reside in (if applicable)
Once you have completed the Medicare open enrollment application process, you will receive a packet of information from the company you have enrolled with. The materials they send will include a membership card, a handbook, a list of covered prescription drugs, a directory of approved pharmacies, the appeal or complaint procedure instructions and other related details of the plan.
In closing, it is important to devote some time each fall to finding the best Medicare health insurance plan for you and your significant other. No matter your ultimate choice, it is important that you compare all your options before making a final decision.
Many cities and towns throughout the country are issuing warnings for seniors and individuals with disabilities about scams aimed at them – especially during this open enrollment period which lasts until the end of the year.
Some of these scams involve people calling Medicare recipients and telling them that they are from Medicare and they are calling to warn the recipient that their benefits will cancel in 30 days. The callers also tell recipients that in order to keep their Medicare benefits, they need to give the callers personal information bank account numbers, social security numbers and Medicare number. Callers will also say that updating this information is free.
These types of scams are becoming more and more common throughout the country. People prey on the elderly and on individuals with disabilities, and these people sound so authentic that they often get the information they are asking for. Once they have this personal information they use it in a fraudulent way.
No matter where you live, Do NOT give out ANY personal information – especially social security numbers, bank account numbers and Medicare or other information that should remain private and protected.
Actual Medicare or Social Security representatives will NEVER ask you for personal information and they will NEVER ask you to pay them over the phone. They may verify your information, but if they are authentic, they already have the information and are trying to make sure that you are who you say you are. In addition, they usually only ask for the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. Medicare sends out information about bills and statements to recipients if there are any amounts due. Most of the time the amount would be set up in advance to be deducted from your bank account and you would receive statement in the mail showing the deduction. Official Medicare, Social Security and banking information is usually sent to you in writing in a statement or letter. If they need information from you, they usually ask for it in writing.
If someone calls you trying to get information that is private, do not give it to them. Try to get their name and number and report them to your local police or sheriff’s department.
Keep yourself and your private, personal information safe. Don’t let scammers trick you into revealing and sharing information that should stay private.
Every year in mid-November, enrollment for Medicare and Medicare Supplements begins. It can be a confusing time due to changes in coverage, changes in premiums and any fine print that comes along with the process.
Many seniors on Medicare are very worried about premiums going up for 2009. That is understandable, especially if a person is on a fixed income with very little or no wiggle room for extras.
The good news for 2009 is that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Medicare Part B premiums, which cover some services that Part A does not cover including outpatient services, doctor services and other services. This means that any individual earning under $85,000 per year or any couple earning under $170,000 per year will pay the same Part B premiums that they paid in 2008.
Premiums are based on income so some premiums could be higher if you have a higher income. One important issue to think about is skilled nursing care, since Medicare and sometimes Medicaid will only pay for a specific amount of care. The care has to be administered after a minimum stay in the hospital and it also leaves a person responsible for part of the bill (currently at $128 per day) out of their own pocket after the first 60 days of care.
That is where it is important to look at additional care in the form of supplements, especially since Medicare will only cover 100 total days. Most seniors do not think they will ever need much care such as a nursing home or long term care facility, but statistics show that a high percentage of seniors spend up to 2.5 to 3 years in a nursing home or long term care facility between the time that they become eligible for Medicare and the time that they pass away.
So, during this time of the year while you can choose the coverage you feel is best, be sure to look at what is not covered and research options to fill the gaps.
