Helping Your Patients Make the Right Decision about Medicare Coverage It’s important for Primary Care Providers to take an active role in helping their patients understand their options for Medicare programs. Remember to talk to your patients about their options for Medicare Coverage during the six months surrounding their 65th birthday.
When to Talk to Your Patients Individuals can join a Medicare plan three months before to three months after turning 65 (called Initial Enrollment Period)
What You Can Do to Help Your Patients Make sure your patients know that they have options regarding their Medicare coverage. Make sure to explain that your office only participates in the following Medicare programs or plans: Health Plan / Program Name
Customer Service Phone Number
Original Medicare
1-800-MEDICARE
Puget Sound Health Partners
1-866-789-PSHP (7747)
Most Health Plans offer individualized one-on-one meetings to discussthe options with your patients. If your patient is interested in Puget Sound Health Partners or another plan that you contract with, advise the patient to contact one or more of the plans at the contact numbers listed above for information on what plan is best for them. If your patient is not interested in a Medicare Advantage plan, remind them they should call 1-800-MEDICAREto get more information about Medicare during the Initial Enrollment Period.
How Puget Sound Health Partners Can Help Puget Sound Health Partners offers documents for your patients to assist them in their decision.
1. Are you Turning 65 in 2011? – An article about aging in to Medicare and options for Medicare Advantage that is not specific to Puget Sound Health Partners.
2. Happy 65th Letter – Puget Sound Health Partners provides a sample letter that you can send to patients around
3. 4. 5.
their 65th birthday to remind them to explore their Medicare options. Puget Sound Health Partners can customize this letter for you and send it to your patients through our mailing vendor so you can fully comply with patient privacy regulations. Meetings Flyer – A one-page educational flyer alerting your patients to meetings about Medicare and our plan benefits in your area. Medicare 101 – Our Salesteam will come to your office and make a presentation on the Basics of Medicare specifically for your patients. Contact us for more information. Plan Information Trifold – Provides basic plan information specific to Puget Sound Health Partners.
If you have any questions on this form, pleasecontact Emily Roberts, Marketing & Communications Specialist at Puget Sound Health Partners at (253) 345-5505 or Emily.R@OurPSHP.com.