FREE Medicare Counseling For Seniors

Delaware County Offers Free Medicare Counseling for Seniors

Medicare Open Enrollment is Earlier This Year: October 15 – December 7

            Starting this year, Open Enrollment for Medicare coverage starts earlier – on Oct. 15^th- and lasts longer (seven full weeks) to give seniors enough time to review and make changes to their coverage.

Also starting this year, beneficiaries will need to make their final selection for next year’s Medicare coverage by Dec. 7. This change in Open Enrollment dates ensures Medicare has enough time to process the beneficiary’s choice so coverage can begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2012.

            Now is the time for Delaware County senior citizens to examine their 2012 Medicare coverage, and possibly revise that coverage to meet changing healthcare needs.

            Delaware County Council, through the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), is offering free counseling to assist residents in making informed decisions about their Medicare health insurance coverage. People with Medicare will see some significant changes to Medicare enrollment rules this fall. If they miss the opportunity to make adjustments to their plans now, they will have to wait another year.

            “It’s critical for seniors to evaluate their Medicare options now,” said Councilman Tom McGarrigle. “Programs change, plus an individual’s health or living situation can change. Having the wrong plan can be very costly to seniors, so we recommend that they examine their coverage and take advantage of the counseling offered.”

There are important changes ahead for the Medicare Annual Enrollment period.

·   Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will take place October 15 – December 7, 2011. People with Medicare can make changes in their Medicare coverage by enrolling in a different Part D plan, changing from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, or vice versa.

·   Medicare’s Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP) will take place from Jan. 1-Feb. 14, 2012.  During this time Medicare beneficiaries cannot use the disenrollment period to switch Medicare Advantage plans. People with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will only be able to return to Original Medicare and join a stand-alone prescription drug (Part D) plan during the Annual Disenrollment period.

Between  October 14 and December 2, trained APPRISE counselors will be available to senior citizens by appointment at the COSA office in Eddystone, and on select dates at locations throughout Delaware County.

APPRISE counselors are available to provide free counseling by phone. Seniors can also make an appointment to meet one-on-one with an APPRISE counselor. To reach the Delaware County APPRISE office call (484) 494-3769.  A high volume of callers is expected this year. APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program administered by Senior Community Services.

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Trained APPRISE counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries in the following areas:

• Review current coverage
• Check qualification for low-income programs
• compare plans with all available options
• Search for specific plans online that meet specific prescription and medical needs
• Give easy-to-understand answers to questions about Medicare
• Help enroll in a plan online

     People with Medicare can make an appointment for free one-on-one APPRISE counseling at the locations below. For an appointment at COSA or other County Government offices call COSA at (610) 490-1300. Registration is required for one-on-one counseling.

• COSA office: Appointments are available for free, individualized counseling at the COSA office,
  206 Eddystone Ave.
  , Eddystone on Oct. 14, 21, 28, Nov 4, 18 or Dec 2.
• County Government offices: People can also make an appointment to meet with a counselor 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 19, at the Government Center in Media, or 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct 25, at Fair Acres in Middletown.

Call the local APPRISE office at 484-494-3769 for a complete listing of informational presentations through out the county, free personalized health insurance counseling, individual plan comparisons and information on programs for people with limited incomes.

Beneficiaries may also use online tools available at www.medicare.gov (the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health coverage) to review options for 2011. They can compare cost and coverage information on plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.

Due to recent changes in Medicare requirements and payments to private Medicare Advantage plans, both now and in the future, insurers may opt to change plan benefits, provider networks, and cost.

Plans might respond to the upcoming shifts in Medicare by:

·        Raising beneficiaries’ premiums and/or cost-sharing

·        Reducing their network of providers

·        Reducing extra benefits

·        Making quality improvements to obtain bonuses

·        Withdrawing from the marketplace entirely

      Others may not make dramatic changes. Beneficiaries should check their coverage carefully each year to ensure they are enrolled in a plan that will continue to meet their health needs and budget.

       “Insurance companies that sponsor Medicare plans have the option to change what they offer each year. Co-pays, deductibles and covered medications might change,” said COSA Director Louis Colbert. “People should gather their insurance cards, a list of their prescriptions and information they’ve received from Medicare and Social Security, and they should meet with a counselor to evaluate their coverage.”

       For information: The Medicare annual enrollment period runs Oct. 7 – Dec. 7. To schedule an appointment for individual plan comparison, call the COSA office in Eddystone at (610) 490-1300 or visit http://www.delcosa.org/. People can also contact the APPRISE office at (484) 494-3769. Also utilize the tools available at http://www.medicare.gov/.