Is it just me or is this really confusing? Navigating Medicare and Health Reform

By Karen Wintringham, Vice President, Medicare Programs, HAP Medicare Solutions

It is not just you and it definitely will be confusing!  October 1st begins the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period.  And this year, for the first time in history, it will ALSO be the beginning of the Open Enrollment Period for the new individual plans authorized by the Health Reform law – at the very same time!

Now maybe that’s not so surprising when you realize that the two programs are being run by many of the same Medicare agency (CMS). 

Writing this blog before either Open Enrollment has begun, I can only imagine the huge volume of TV ads and newspaper ads and mailings to homes about each program – especially if one person in the home is Medicare eligible and the spouse is not.

So here’s the clearest answer I can give:  if you are a Medicare beneficiary you will continue your annual process of reviewing new health plans and benefits and premiums just like you always have.  If you decide to change plans or options or companies you will do it just like you always have.  You will not be using Exchanges or Marketplaces and you can ignore all of the mail and ads and meetings about them.

But you can’t afford to tune everything out – you still need to review your current plan’s proposed benefits and rates for 2014.  If your needs have not changed, and the 2014 version of your current plan still works for you, then you can  relax, knowing your plan will automatically renew.  If your needs have changed or the 2014 version of your plan no longer meets your needs, use the “old fashioned” methods:  read your new Medicare & You, call the plan(s) that interests you, ask friends about their plans, attend Medicare workshops, use medicare.gov., and gather the information you need to find the plan that works best for you.

And then you can tune out, content knowing you are ready for 2014.

Karen Wintringham, of Rochester Hills, is Vice President, Medicare Programs for HAP.  Her experience with her mother's challenges with Parkinson's have added a personal perspective to her many years of professional commitment to making Medicare work for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. Karen is a featured speaker at the Caregiver Expo on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.  For more information about the Caregiver Expo, visit www.michigancaregiverexpo.com.