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MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ENROLLMENT
CHANGES
July 26, 2010 - Medicare
Advantage members will have only one chance to change their
Advantage plan later this year, between November 15th and
December 31st. After January 1, they will be locked into their
Advantage plan for 2011- unless they decide to dis-enroll
from their Advantage plan and go back to Medicare. From
January 1st to February 15th, seniors enrolled in Medicare
Advantage plans will be allowed to dis-enroll from
their plan. And if their Advantage plan included a drug plan,
they will be allowed to sign up for a stand-alone Part D plan
to replace the drug coverage that was in their Medicare
Advantage plan.
For many years
(and in 2010), people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans
were able to switch from one plan to another during the months
of January, February, and March. This “Open Enrollment
Period” will not be available in 2011.
In November this
year (2010), it will be very important for seniors to review
the materials they receive from their Medicare Advantage plan
– in case their plan makes some big changes. If they want to
shop around for another Advantage plan, they will only have
November 15th to December 31st to do so. If they discover in
January that their plan no longer works for them, they will be
unable to change to another Advantage plan. Their only
recourse will be to dis-enroll from their Advantage plan and
go back to Medicare (and pick up a Part D plan).
CLICK HERE
to find the link to Medicare Plans.
Learn about MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, or
Simple Explanation of
Parts A, B, C, and D.
Or go to the Medicare Health
Plan
Finder.
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Time to Review Medicare
Part D Plans
Go to the
Medicare (D) Drug Plan Finder |
Did you know that
today the
US is only
43rd
in life expectancy among the nations!
We wonder why. $
$
$ $
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Where Do I Start With Part "D"?
Simply
explained on one page.
Understand the maze.
Senior Tips,
Medicare and Part "D" Prescription
News and Links (below)
2010 Medicare
Part D Basic Guidelines
How Part D Works - How to change it
Help - I'm falling into the dreaded
doughnut
hole" :
15 Things you
can do
today to survive
the doughnut hole, and save on drugs.
Medicare Twilight Zone
do do do do
) do do do
A little comic relief for all those who are
confused by Medicare!
Part D Costs in Easy Chart Form
Medicare Parts A, B, C, D
Simply
explained on one page
Medicare Part "D
Simply
explained on one page
Two New Medicare Part "D" Tools
Select
the right plan for you.
Part D and
Medicare Advantage
Comparison Tool
Surviving the Medicare Advantage
Decision-Making Process
2012
Part B Premium
Effect of a Zero Social Security COLA
on Part B
Premiums in Medicare
Committing
to
the wrong Part D Plan for the next year could be a costly
and tragic error.
Are you sure you will have the best 2009 Part D
Plan for your area, at the best price, and one that best meets your
prescription needs? Medicare has a very easy tool that will do that for you. As the editor of
SeniorArk.com, I work with Part D information every day,
and I'm
not sure
I will
have the best 2010 Plan until I use that tool.
Have a
look.
Medicare-run, single payer drug plan
proposed
A few quick
Medicare
Links for Part D
Check to see if you qualify for extra help
with
Part D costs. |
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TIPS
most recent
last |
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1.
Surviving
With Medicare Part "D" |
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2.THE
MEDICARE TWILIGHT ZONE
Humorous article on the utter confusion of Medicare "Parts" |
3. Explanation
of Part D, doughnut hole, and suggestions
for improvement.
"Be
generous. I'm trying to buy my way out of the doughnut
hole." Maxine |
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4.
Official Medicare Prescription Drug Information Site
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5. If you do not have
excessive property or large bank accounts, you should be
able to get your Part D subsidized by Social Security.
I get about $11,000 per year and my Part D has NO premium NO
deductible, NO gap, and the meds run between $! & $5 per
month (max) each.
Check page 57 in the 2006 Medicare Handbook
"Medicare and You" it has a chart that should answer
your questions. Good luck. You may be able to get help
applying (I did) from
RSVP, they're in the phone book. Cheers, Lee O.
(You will need Acrobat Reader to open this Medicare
publication online. It is free. Click the running
person below)
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6, BEWARE of people
offering to give you Medicare information for a price.
99.9% of the time this information is available FOR FREE.
These people are looking to make a buck off of you by
selling you convenience.
For that matter, any information
pertaining to government policies or programs is free.
Don't fall for the hype! Rivahcat
- Virginia
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7.
IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT PLAN D, WRITE OR CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR.
COMPLETE LINKS TO DO THAT CAN BE FOUND AT:
LINKS/GOVERNMENT |
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8. Here is an invaluable site
for Seniors who are on Part "D", or buying drugs
independently. It is produced by independent Consumer Reports. It is part of their "Best
Buy Drugs" website.
Specific to those on Medicare
is their "Medicare
RX" section. |
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9.
Why are seniors paying nearly twice the price
for their prescriptions as veterans, even though the
government runs both programs?
Because Congress specifically prevented Medicare from
negotiating lower drug prices for seniors. In a time of
record budget deficits, that just doesn’t make sense.
Click here
to tell Congress to let Medicare get better drug prices for
seniors. (Takes you to a Consumers Union/Consumer Reports
page) |
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10. A free booklet is
available from the National Pharmaceutical Council
explaining prescription benefits, new Medicare
beneficiaries, choosing a plan and how to appeal when your
drug is not covered. You can order Your Pharmacy Benefit:
Make It Work for You. Call 1-888-878-3256 or
www.pueblo.gsa.gov |
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11. Important dates for
the balance of 2008 for Part D
Oct. 1:
Insurance companies may start marketing their plans.
Oct. Mid:
Medicare releases details of the plans, costs and drugs they
cover. In late October it mails each beneficiary the
"Medicare and You" handbook, a guide to all Medicare
benefits.
Nov.
15-Dec. 31: Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in Part D
plans, or switch to new plans. Those already enrolled may
keep those plans or switch to different ones. People in a
plan that is being discontinued may choose a new plan.
January 1 -
March 31 Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage, if you
decide you prefer this to a stand-alone Part D program.
HELP, Medicare •
1-800-633-4227 (TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day.
www.medicare.gov
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12.
The changes to Medicare in 2006 that brought us the drug
"benefit" had another increase built in which I was
just made aware of by an article in this Sunday's paper ..
Part B charges
will be tied to your income bracket !!!! .
The article did not state
how/when they would determine your bracket ..
But anyone near a bracket boundary should do some year-end
income planning now if possible.. The article mentioned 2
events that could cause a bracket shift, converting an IRA
to Roth and selling property.. Paul P.
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13. See
Medicare A B C D Made Simple |
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14. TO FIND A HEALTH
PLAN Your best resource is still the Medicare
prescription-drug-plan finder -- -- which lets you enter the names of drugs
you take and figure your potential out-of-pocket costs for
the plans in your area.
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15. If you are denied
any kind of coverage by Medicare, you have the right to
appeal. Here is the
Medicare webpage you need:
http://www.medicare.gov/basics/appeals.asp |
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16. What
can you do if you are
falling
into the
doughnut hole? |
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17. This
morning SeniorARK came across an
October 23, 2006 article on the mixed grades Part D
is receiving. In that article we find this statement: "It's a lot of
smoke," said Dr. Aaron Snyder, who works for Kaiser
Permanente. To him, the government is cleverly concealing
the fact that the benefits are relatively modest. To
read the full article click:
Medicare Plan D gets mixed grades
Rocky Mountain News -
Denver,CO,USA |
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18 Alert:
Despite Medicare coverage, seniors are not
taking advantage of preventive services and
important screenings that can help detect diseases early. |
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19. Do you think
there is profit in the Medicare Part D Extravaganza on the
backs of Seniors? Read this from a late October
2006 Stock value assessment of Part D provider,
Humana:
"OVERVIEW: In 2003, the federal government
passed legislation allowing seniors to obtain medical
coverage through private health insurers under plans
ultimately reimbursed by Medicare
More than half of Humana's profits come from insuring
seniors through government programs, and with Medicare
reforms still in infancy analysts say investors will judge
Humana's third quarter based on margins and enrollment. Both
are tied to the
company's ability to persuade members to switch to a new
type of plan, Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Advantage offers seniors cheaper copays under
programs that restrict choices to certain doctors and
hospitals." |
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Read recent article (Oct 29) on Part D
THE PRAISES AND PITFALLS OF PART D |
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21. Disabled and can't get
around. Check into Medicare-approved scooters.
It
may be fully covered. |
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22. Many
seniors know that Medicare covers flu and pneumonia
vaccinations but don't realize they have extra benefits that
became effective Jan. 1, 2005,
Medicare now covers 100
percent of the cost of cholesterol tests every five years
and diabetes screening tests up to twice a year. It also
will cover 80 percent an annual glaucoma eye screening and a
bone mass measurement to check for osteoporosis.
Other
screenings tests covered by Medicare at 100 or 80 percent
include mammography, pap tests, colorectal screening and
prostate cancer. The coverage means Medicare benefits can
help detect disease earlier, reduce infectious diseases and
improve a patient's quality of life.
Many
conditions and diseases have no early symptoms. It's much better to
try to prevent health problems from developing or growing
that treating a disease after it has developed for a while.
These are potentially life saving benefits. We encourage
seniors to take advantage of them. Cancer can grow deep
within a colon, for example, with no symptoms. Regular
testing can reveal colon cancer in earlier more curable
stages. Medicare also will cover 80 percent of the medical
nutritional therapy for persons with diabetes or kidney
disease. |
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23.
If your Medicare Part B coverage begins on or after January
1, 2005, Medicare
benefits cover a one-time preventive physical exam within
the first six months that you have Part B. The exam
will include a thorough review of your health, education and
counseling about the preventive services you need, like
certain screenings and shots, and referrals for other care.
The "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam is a great way to
get up-to-date on important screenings and shots and to talk
with your doctor about your family history and how to stay
healthy. These
preventative screenings are an important aspect of senior
health and committing to a healthy lifestyle. |
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24. Premiums are
going up on Part D, and there could be
changes as to which prescription drugs are covered in your
policy.
If a senior decides to change policies or enroll in the
program for the first time,
Medicare officials urge the action be taken by December 8.
Although the deadline is Dec. 31, applying early will allow
enough time for processing for coverage beginning Jan. 1.
Don't assume that everything is exactly the same as in 2006
with your Part D plan. You need to review it for 2007.
And there may be a better plan for your situation. Go to
prescription-drug-plan finder for
online help from Medicare. |
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25. No Increase for Medicare Part B Premiums in 2009;
more. |
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26.
Bill to Improve
Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy |
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27. November 1, 2006 - In 13 states next
year, there will be no drug plans that offer coverage in the
so-called "doughnut hole," the drug coverage gap in
the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, for the top
medicines prescribed to seniors, according to a new report
issued today. In 2006, there were only four such states, but
the number of seniors without access to such doughnut hole
coverage will increase from 375,000 to 6.6 million in 2007 -
an 18-fold increase.
In the 37 states and
the District of Columbia in which plans will continue to
offer such doughnut hole coverage, premiums for the
lowest-priced Part D plans will increase by 87.4 percent,
jumping from a median monthly price of $55.08 in 2006 to
$103.20 in 2007 (an increase in annual premiums from $660.96
to $1,238.40). SeniorJournal.com |
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28. Medicare Part B
Premiums:
New Rules For Beneficiaries With Higher Incomes Frequently
Asked Questions |
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29. Your
2009 Part B premium depends. on your income for prior tax
year..
read
more |
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Seniors are
waiting for your tip here.
Or submit a
useful link for a links section. |
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Click here to read SeniorARK explanation of, and
recommendations for Medicare Part "D" |
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Medicare and
Prescription Drug Part D
News
most recent articles
first
older articles in
archive |
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Seniors:
IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION
PLAN, WRITE OR CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR. COMPLETE
LINKS TO DO THAT CAN BE FOUND AT:
LINKS/GOVERNMENT.
Or you might want to go
the route below: |
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Why are seniors paying
nearly twice the price for their prescriptions as veterans, even though
the government runs both programs? Because Congress specifically
prevented Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors. In a
time of record budget deficits, that just doesn’t make sense.
Tell Congress to let Medicare get better drug prices for seniors. |
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If any links are dead,
they have probably been dropped by the original publisher. |
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Most recent Medicare and Part D
news listed first.
See
older
Medicare
and
Part D
News in
archive
Date indicates when
posted on this page by SeniorArk |
THE SHINGLES VACCINE: MEDICARE PART D
PAYS FOR IT ...
February 9, 2012 - Shingles usually attacks the middle-aged and
elderly. Baby Boomers are ripe for getting this virus. There is a
vaccine for it covered by Medicare D. |
Brand Names Drove Differences in Part D Spending
The Oncology Report February 8, 2012
If the geographic areas with the highest drug spending had used
generics as often as those with the lowest drug spending in 2008,
Medicare and its beneficiaries would have saved $4.5 billion that
year, said Julie M. Donohue, Ph.D., of the University of ... |
Pitt study: Drug costs, not volume, causes regional
differences in Medicare ...
EurekAlert (press release) February 8, 2012
The research suggests the Medicare Part D benefit design, which
promotes cost-sharing and utilization management, may be an
important tool for boosting the use of generic drugs in the program
and saving money, particularly in high-cost regions, ... |
New data show health law is helping seniors
The Hill February 7, 2012
Medications are a growing part of healthcare costs for many seniors.
Those who fall into the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the
“doughnut hole” can pay as much as $4700 out of their own pockets.
In the past, this has led some beneficiaries to ... |
Raising Medicare premiums a double-edged sword
ModernHealthcare.com (blog) February 7, 2012
The 11-page report begins by laying out the income-related premiums
for both Medicare part B and part D under current law.
It then continues by considering proposed changes to those
premiums—and what those changes would mean for beneficiaries. |
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If any links are
dead, they have probably been dropped by the original publisher.
Most recent Part D news listed
first.
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See Older Medicare and Part "D" articles in
archive |
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