If you are a health care professional working with older adults in Connecticut or the New York City area, fall likely means you receive more than a few questions about Medicare Open Enrollment. Seniors who haven’t been through it before, or their adult children who might be helping, often have questions about the process. We thought pulling together a checklist of key information might be of help to you as the 2014 Medicare Open Enrollment period begins.
Facts about Medicare Open Enrollment
- Open enrollment dates are the same every year. It begins on October 15 and ends on December 6.
- It is the one time each year Medicare recipients have to review current coverage and make changes.
- Seniors and those living with a long-term disability can choose traditional Medicare or opt for a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Medicare Part C is made up of the Medicare Advantage private insurance plans.
- A Medigap policy is supplemental insurance seniors can purchase separately to cover the difference between what the actual cost of care is and what Medicare will pay.
- Medicare advises seniors to buy a Medigap policy as soon as they are eligible for benefits. During those first six months of their initial open enrollment they can purchase any plan they want and not be denied coverage because of existing health problems.
- Even if an older adult is happy with their current coverage and doesn’t want to make any changes, they should be encouraged to check with their providers to make sure they will still be accepting traditional Medicare or their current insurance plan in 2015.
- Seniors who review their current information and decide to keep everything the same in 2015 do not need to do anything. Their coverage will continue as it is in 2014.
- Any changes made during open enrollment will go into effect on January 1, 2015.
- Seniors can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for help. Those with a hearing impairment can use TTY 1-877-486-2048.
- Medicare also has personal representatives that can meet with older adults who need help. In New York you can find one by calling 1-(800) 701-0501 and in Connecticut the number to call is 1-(800) 994-9422.
Finally, one resource you can share with patients and their adult children is the Yearly Medicare Plan Review brochure. It can be downloaded and printed to help make the process a little easier.
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Author: Ann Jamison
Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.
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