Important Medicare Dates & Resources

Medicare has new schedules for making coverage choices. Here’s what you need to know, and if you have questions, some resources for additional information:

October 1-14, 2011: During these two weeks, private insurers announce all benefit and premium information for their Part C Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Plans for the coming year. This is your opportunity to see what might change with your current coverage and whether other policies might be better for you.

October 15-December 7, 2011: This is the Annual Election Period. It is the time each year you can change or enroll in new part C Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan. If you make a change,new coverage will start January 1.

January 1-February 14, 2012: This is the Annual Disenrollment Period. During this time, you can disenroll from your Part C Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. If you choose to do so, you are allowed to choose a separate Medicare prescription drug plan at the same time. It becomes effective the first of the following month.

February 15-October 14, 2012: Most people cannot change their Medicare coverage during this “Lock-In” period. Exceptions include if you’ve:

Just turned 65
Moved out of your current plan’s service area
Lost your employer health coverage
Entered a nursing home
Involuntarily lost your prescription drug coverage.

Got questions? Here are a few resources:

Medicare at www.medicare.gov

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) Every state offers one-on-one help from trained advisors. Find contact information at: medicare.gov/contacts/organization-search-criteria.aspx or www.shiptalk.org

Alamo Service Connection sponsored by Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG)www.askasc.org or (210)477-3275, 1-800-960-5201

Children of Aging Parents (CAPS) www.caps4caregivers.org

Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) www.medicareadvocacy.org or 1-860-456-7790

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Autumn & Medicare Changes

With autumn come plans for Thanksgiving, the Christmas holidays, and the New Year. It is also time to reflect on critical decisions that may affect your health and finances.

For those aged 65 and above, Medicare's annual open enrollment period is coming up. If you are enrolled in Medicare, this is your chance to make unrestricted changes to coverage. Or you might leave your coverage the same, after a careful review of the pros and cons.

Do you want to stick with Original Medicare? Would you prefer to switch to a private Medicare Advantage Plan? If so, which one? Would you be better served by dropping your current drug plan and switching?

Be aware of these new developments:

OPEN ENROLLMENT IS EARLIER
The period to make insurance decisions has been moved to Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. (Last year, it was from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31).

YOU'RE ENTITLED TO MORE DRUG DISCOUNTS
Drug plan enrollees will get a 50% discount on brand name drugs when they hit the donut hole, or coverage gap. In 2012, your discount on generic drugs will go up to 14%, from 7% in 2011.

MORE FREE CHECKUPS ARE AVAILABLE
In 2012, Medicare Advantage plans will offer preventive care services for free.
Take away: Read your Annual Notice of Change, sent by your insurance company to your mail box at home. Read it over carefully. Plans make changes to benefits — and costs — every year. Understand the changes to your benefits and how much they will cost you.

You might need to do some additional research online or by calling your insurance company to see if your current plan still suits your needs.

GOT QUESTIONS? GET SOME FREE COUNSELING. Here are a few resources to start with:
Medicare: Medicare.gov; 1-800-MEDICARE
Medicare Rights Center: MedicareInteractive.org; 1-800-333-4114
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): A national program that offers one-on-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. Shiptalk.org

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