Public Urged to Attend National Medicare Education Week Program

If you are confused or uncertain about Medicare, you’re not alone. That’s why this week, baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers in Greater Hartford are invited to attend an educational program as part of National Medicare Education Week (Sept. 15-21).

The event, open to the public free of charge, aim to help Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers better understand their coverage options, learn when and how to enroll or change plans, and hear the basics of Medicare as well as common misconceptions. The session will be on Thursday, Sept. 20 in West Hartford, 10:00 a.m. thru 12 noon.

Connecticut has the 7th oldest population in the nation, and the sixth highest per capita healthcare spending among the states.

During the event, a local UnitedHealthcare representative and a Walgreens pharmacist will address attendee questions on Medicare-related topics and will be available to speak one-on-one. Individuals are urged to attend and bring questions that they’d like to have answered. The goal is to equip people with the tools and information they need to make informed health care decisions before the start of the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period in October. National Medicare Education Week is held each year one month before the start of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, which runs from mid-October through early December.

In October, more than 175,136 people in Hartford County will be eligible to enroll in or change their Medicare plans during Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. Unfortunately, nearly 2 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries say they have a “fair” or “poor” understanding of Medicare, and nearly two-thirds of those eligible say they have never shopped for coverage to fit their needs.

Attendees will have the opportunity to get answers to frequently asked questions, such as:

• What are my coverage options?
• How do I decide?
• What if I’m still working?
• How can I save money?
• When can I enroll?

There is no cost to attend but registration is requested. To RSVP, please go to www.NMEW.com or call 1-855-352-7920. The Greater Hartford session will be held at the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford, 355 Bloomfield Avenue, in West Hartford. There is free parking on premises, and light refreshments will be provided. A similar session was held in Orange on Monday.

The 7th annual National Medicare Education Week is supported by Walgreens, Caregiver Action Network, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, AARP, ProHealth Physicians and Optum IPA.