The latest on Medicare enrollment

QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 1, 2020 Page 22 QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, October 1, 2020 Page 8 by David Russell Associate Editor M edicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 but those interested can look at health and drug plans by using the Medicare Plan Finder beginning today, Oct. 1. By visiting medicare.gov/plan-compare, people can compare their coverage with other options, possibly being able to save money or receive extra benefits. New coverage for people making a change will begin Jan. 1, 2021. From that day through March 31, customers can change to a different Medicare Advantage plan or switch to original Medicare and join a separate Medicare When a person is first eligible for Medicare, he or she has a seven-month initial enrollment period to sign up for Part A and Part B. People who are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65 can sign up during the seven-month period that begins three months before the month they turn 65, includes the month they turn 65 or ends three months after the month they turn 65. There is also an eight-month special enrollment period that starts either the month after employment ends or the month taxes for everyone.” People are told to guard Medicare cards like they’re credit cards. Medicare will not contact people for their Medicare number or other personal information unless the person has g iven t hem per m ission i n advance; Medicare will not call to sell anything; Medicare will never visit someone at their home; Medicare can’t enroll someone over the phone unless a person calls first. Community Medicaid also has changes coming Oct. 1. There was no lookback What to know about Medicare coverage Senior Living Guide drug plan. after group health insurance based period for gifts of assets that “A lot of people are nervous,” said Queens on current employment ends. an applicant made prior to

Interagency Council on Aging President “A lot of people, especially this the month of their Medicaid

Barry Klitsberg. “They don’t know what’s spring and early summer, lost their application and, therefore, going to happen. Some of that is political, jobs,” Klitsberg said. “They need to no “penalty period,” in some of that is the annual apprehension about apply for Part B so they don’t have a which Medicaid would not the new plans.” penalty later on.” pay for services because People can call 1 (800) 633-4227 for a counOne Medicare change is for of these gifts. An appliseling program in which people are given assispatients with end-stage renal disease, cant could make a gift in tance in looking for new plans. TTY users can who will be able to join a Medicare one month and be eligicall 1 (877) 486-2048. Advantage Plan beginning Jan. 1. Preble for Medicaid home For free, personalized counseling, New viously, people with ESRD could enroll care services the next

Yorkers can call the Health Insurance Informain Medicare Advantage plans under month, which differs tion Counseling and Assistance Program at 1 limited circumstances. Organ acquisifrom Medicaid nursing (800) 701-0501. Nearly 3.7 million residents are enrolled in Medicare in New York and almost 44 percent of New York Medicare beneficiaries are tion costs of kidney transplants will have coverage under the fee-for-service program instead of Medicare Advantage organizations. home care, which has a five-year lookback period and a penalty period during which MEDICARE.GOV enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans will also see applicants are ineliKlitsberg advises people to constantly check an increase in telehealth services and covg ib le for Medicaid their mail to see if there is something from erage allowing seniors to be treated by proif gifts were made during those

Medicare, Social Security or their existing fessionals at home. Telehealth allows seniors previous five years. plan. to video conference with their doctor from said that he will send Under the new rules, there will be a If a plan decides not to participate in Meditheir homes. $200 drug discount cards to 33 30-month lookback period for home care care for the coming year, the coverage would The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid million Americans on Medicare. applications made on or after Oct. 1 with a end Dec. 31 and customers will get a letter Services is giving Medicare Advantage plans People can also switch to the electronic verperiod of ineligibility if the applicant made explaining new options. flexibility to include telehealth providers in sion of the Medicare handbook instead of gifts during those past 30 months. Medicare Part A covers hospital insurance certain practice areas including primary care, receiving a paper copy each fall by visiting Eligibility criteria for enrollment in Medicand includes inpatient care at a hospital, skilled cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, gynecoloMedicare.gov/gopaperless or logging into their aid’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance nursing facility or hosgy and endocrinology. account at MyMedicare.gov. Program and Personal Care Services are also pice. It also covers several other services, including laboratory tests, surgery, doctor visits and home Seniors should be aware of changes Medicare Advantage plans will offer benefits for a variety of additional supplemental home care If a person needs someone to be able to call Medicare on his or her behalf, the person can fill out a “Medicare Authorization to Disclose Personal Health Information” form, so Medichanging, as applicants will have to meet higher standards. In order to be eligible, people will need to be found as requiring at least limited assistance healthcare. Part B covers things while avoiding scams. services, including adult day care services, incare can give personal health information to someone other than the client. with two or more activities of daily living. Seven activities of daily living include bathing For the latest news visit qchron.com SENIOR LI V ING GUIDE • Fall 2020 like clinical research, ambulance services, durable medical equipment, limited outpatient prescription drugs and mental health services. Part C refers to Medicare Advantage plans, while some people opt for Medicare Supplemental Insurance to fill in the gaps in Parts A and B, as well as Medicare prescription drug coverage, known as Part D. Medigap is Medicare Supplemental Insurance that helps fill “gaps.” As long as a person in New York is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, he or she can enroll in a Medigap plan at any time and premiums do not vary based on the applicant’s age or health status. This is also true for enrollees who are under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to a disability. Premiums vary from one insurer to another and from one area to another. home personal care services, benefits for over-the-counter products, home safety modifications and meal delivery and transportation. Starting in 2021, many participating drug plans will offer a 30-day supply of insulin for $35 or less per month. Someone taking insulin who enrolls in one of the plans could save an average of $446 per year on out-of-pocket costs for insulin. One in three people with Medicare has diabetes. CNBC reported last Wednesday that there are questions about COVID vaccines being covered by Medicare. Medicare Part B, which generally covers approved vaccines deemed necessary, does not extend that coverage to those approved under emergency-use authorization. In other Medicare news, President Trump Visit Medicare.gov/medicareonlineforms to find the form or call 1 (800) Medicare. Medicare says people may want to take this step now in case someone is unable to do it at a later time. Visit medicare.gov/publications to view, print or download copies of publications, such as “Medicare & You,” on different Medicare topics. To stay up to date on social media, users can visit Facebook.com/Medicare or go to Twitter.com/MedicareGov. The Medicare website also advises people to be alert for scams. “Con artists may try to get your Medicare number or personal information so they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud,” according to the site. “Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs and and grooming, dressing and undressing, meal preparation and feeding, functional transfers, safe restroom use and maintaining continence, ambulation, and memory care and stimulation. For individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s, eligibility for enrollment is met if it is found that at least supervision is needed for assistance with one or more daily living activities. Jack Lippman, president of Elder Care Services, Inc. in Forest Hills, said a common question he gets is, “If I apply for Medicaid do I have to give up my health insurance?” The answer is no. “People can have Medicare, supplement insurance and Medicaid. Medicaid encourages them to have all three because the first payer is Medicare,” he said, adding, “That’s a big issue that a lot of people are not quite aware of.” Q