Health & Fitness
Seniors, Medicare Open Enrollment Period Has Changed Again This Year
The open enrollment period now runs from now through Dec. 7. You have an extra week to change plans, but it must be done earlier this year.
The video on the right is an interview with Kim Andrews of APPRISE, informing seniors about this year’s open enrollment changes.
During a six or seven week period each year, seniors have an opportunity to change their Medicare choices. Sometimes finding the right Medicare plan is akin to hitting a moving target. Every year the open enrollment period as well as drug formularies change. Seniors face a baffling Medicare enrollment process. They are required to log onto the Medicare site on the Internet, then they must predict what medications they will need for the coming next year, and finally choose among dozens of insurance company options.
The open enrollment period, which used to run from November to December 31, has changed this year. It now runs from October 15 to December 7, 2011. Seniors have an extra week to change plans, but it must be completed earlier. Medicare did this to give them enough time to print the new Medicare cards by the beginning of the next year.
Find out what's happening in Marple Newtownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
I do not understand why we cannot simply give seniors the drugs and medications they need to stay healthy. Do we need to place these hurdles before them? Imagine how you would feel if your physician made you complete a crossword puzzle before you could have your prescription filled at a pharmacy. Because of the complexities, nearly half (46 percent) of Medicare enrollees have never shopped around for the best coverage, according to survey results released in August, by the National Council on Aging and the health insurer UnitedHealthcare.
Having pointed out the flaws in the Medicare Plan, there is a silver lining. There is a free solution to help navigate through the Medicare maze, and every senior who reads this post should definitely take advantage of it. The solution is APPRISE, a program designed to help seniors choose among Medicare options. A counsellor will peform the following services for FREE: (1) answer your questions about Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, long term care insurance, Medicare Advantage Plans and prescription benefits; (2) Help you understand your Medicare benefits explaining which services are covered under Parts A & B and the Medicare Summary Notice; (3) Help you make informed choices about Medicare coverage options; (4) Help you understand the Medicare appeals process and assist with appeals paperwork; (5) Help you select a Medigap insurance policy; (6) Explain financial assistance programs that may pay for your Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-pays and subsidies that can provide you with prescriptions; (7) Explain the Medicare prescription benefit.
Find out what's happening in Marple Newtownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Every state has an APPRISE program, and every county in Pennsylvania has APPRISE counselors, but we have some of the best counselors in the Commonwealth. The APPRISE counselor will probably tell you why you do not need Medigap Policy F, if you are a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You may be paying insurance for a cost that Pennsylvania Medical Providers cannot charge. Although Medigap F is the highest selling Medigap policy in the state, the extra premium payment over Plan C may be wasted funds.
To find an APPRISE counsellor, and find out if that holds true in your case, call 484-494-3769.
Stay healthy until the next post.
-Bob Gasparro
Robert Gasparro is an Elder Practitioner (an accountant and attorney). He can be reached at robert.gasparro@lifespanlegal.com. He welcomes questions, or ideas for future blogs.
