Seniors, Can We Talk?

Happy Valentine’s Day Gifts

Caroline Beauchamp is a

local insurance

agent for M

& P

Insurance & Investment Services. She offers personalized life and health insurance solutions and is known for her widelypublished informational column, ‘Caroline, Can We Talk?’.

Remember last month I told you about Ruth’s brother, Greg, passing away after several long illnesses? Well, as soon as I saw Ruth for our monthly lunch, she wished me Happy Valentine’s Day then started talking about Toni, Greg’s widow/Ruth’s sister-in-law.

“Guess what’s going on with Toni?” Ruth said. I immediately took a deep breath and said “What?” (thinking something bad had happened to Toni; kinda the natural first thing you think, right?).

It was good news. Toni had gotten two (2) Happy Valentine’s Day gifts.

Toni has a wonderful support group. Both her sister (Linda) and her best friend (Judy) have been thinking about moving closer to her. In fact, their move is Toni’s Valentine’s Day gift from them! They just unpacked and are planning their Happy Valentine’s Day celebration with Toni!

Since her sister moved from Florida and her best friend moved from southern Arkansas, they must make some changes to their Medicare health insurance plans. Why? With a Medicare Prescription plan, the plans available are determined by the state you live in. With a Medicare Advantage plan, the plans available are based on the county or zip code you live in.

Linda had enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan and Prescription plan while living in Florida. She may keep her Medicare Supplement plan, since there is no Special Enrollment Period to enroll in an Arkansas Medicare Supplement plan (a Special Enrollment Period allows you to change plans without answering medical questions). Her premium may change since she’s now an Arkansas resident.

Linda must enroll in a different Medicare Prescription plan. Medicare Prescription plans are specific to the state you reside in. Linda is making a list of prescriptions she takes, the dosages and the pharmacy she uses so I can review prescription plans with her.

Once I have Linda’s list of prescriptions, I’ll get her medical history. Based on her medical history she may be eligible for a Medicare Supplement plan that would save her money.

Judy has a Medicare Advantage plan. Since Medicare Advantage plans are specific to the county or zip code you live in, Judy will have to change her plan. The good thing is that based on her move she qualifies for a Special Election/Enrollment Period (SEP) and can change plans now without being concerned about being turned down. Judy is gathering her information.

In addition to her prescription information, she will need to include her list of doctors. In reviewing plans for Judy, we want to make certain her existing doctors and any new doctors are in the plan’s network (the plan’s network is the providers who accept the plan and accept the benefits the plan provides). Judy takes several prescriptions and sees several specialists so this is really important that her providers accept her plan.

I’m excited for Toni that her sister and best friend are here with her.

I hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Please call me at 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk about what’s going on with me?” N