Show #406 Airing Sunday, 11/4/07
The presidential elections may still be a year away. But Medicare recipients have another very important "election" coming right up. It's electing your health care provider. Here to keep us "open" minded about Medicare's "open" enrollment is Carolyn Abraham, director of Medicare and Marketing at Kaiser Permanente.
Question: We're coming to an important time for people who are in Medicare. Tell us.
Answer: Yes. November 15 - December 31 is the annual election period when those enrolled in individual Medicare plans have the opportunity to review their options and perhaps change the plan they have. (For those individuals who have coverage through a former employer or retirement system, your open enrollment dates and options will vary. Check with your group's benefit office for more information or look for mailings from them.).
Question: Should we have received information on this annual election period already?
Answer: Yes. In mid-October, those enrolled in Medicare should have received the 2008 Medicare & You Handbook from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Also, your current Medicare carrier should have sent you an "Annual Notice of Change" by October 31st. In this document, your carrier provides you with information on 2008 benefits, rates, and any changes to their drug formulary. This information will help you decide if you'd like to stay with your current plan or make any changes to plan or carrier.
Question: So you only have until December 31st to make this decision?
Answer: You can make any change you'd like by December 31st, and it will be effective January 1st. [No penalty and no extra cost.] However, if that date passes, there is a second window from January 1st through March 31st, when you are allowed to make one more change in your carrier and/or plan. This is called an Open Enrollment Period.
However, this second window has a restriction the first does not. During this time, if you have Medicare Part D Prescription coverage, you can only switch to a plan that also has Part D. If you do not have drug coverage, you may only switch to another plan that does not. During this Open Enrollment Period, you cannot add or drop drug coverage. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage adds or deletions must be made in November/December.
Question: Should everyone in Medicare have the prescription drug benefit? What is you aren't on many medications at present?
Answer: Hopefully, those on Medicare are already enrolled for Medicare Part D. If you decide not to enroll, and do not have credible prescription coverage (equal or better than Part D coverage), you will face penalties if/when you do enroll for Part D. So enroll when eligible, even if you do not currently have prescriptions. Chances are you will need the coverage some day.
Question: Where can people find more information?
Answer: You can call 1-800-Medicare to ask questions, or log on to www.Medicare.gov. The website has a personal plan finder, a list of options based on your zip code, and the ability to estimate the cost of plans based on your current health. There's even an online version of the Medicare & You Handbook, with information on how to enroll and open enrollments.
You can also call Kaiser Permanente with any questions and for information on our Medicare Plus options. Mention you saw us on this show and we will send you a complimentary copy of Healthwise for Life, a self-care guide for People Age 50 and better. We will also have seminars on Medicare enrollment. Please call for locations and times.
The time for Medicare enrollees to consider changing their provider or plan is coming up. For more information on this opportunity, call Kaiser Permanente. They can send you a free Healthcare Handbook, or you can sign up for one of their Medicare seminars. The number's next. My thanks to Carolyn Abraham.
