Medicare’s
fall enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, is a time for
people to review their coverage to be sure it’s still right for them and make
any needed changes.
People
with traditional Medicare who purchase a Part D plan to cover their
prescription drugs may want to check that their current plan still offers the
best coverage for their medications. That’s especially true if they are taking
different medicines, but plans can move drugs to different coverage levels from
year to year, so never assume your current coverage will continue.
Medicare
Advantage plans, which are managed by private insurers rather than the
government, may also change from year to year.
This
season, here are some new developments to Medicare that people should know
about as they review their coverage.
New CMS
Plan Finder tool
People
who have shopped for Medicare coverage in the past may be familiar with the
Plan Finder tool, the primary resource to compare cost and coverage for
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have completely overhauled the
website for 2020 enrollment, in response to repeated calls for updates to
address flaws. It has retained some of its popular features, such as the
ability to enter the exact medications you take to see how out-of-pocket costs
will compare under different plans.
But
enrollment specialists are worried some changes will be confusing for people
who are used to the old website.
“The
look and the feel and the function are going to be completely different. It’s
going to be a different world,” said James Long, a broker-manager with Young’s
Insurance Services Inc. in Norristown.
One
change enrollment specialists are concerned about is a rule that people must
create an online account in order to save their information and continue their
search later. Previously, the website allowed people to save searches using an
anonymous 10-digit identification number, which meant that people could enlist
the help of a friend, relative, or professional without giving that person
access to their personal identification information.
The new
tool’s late August release means that enrollment specialists, including State
Health Insurance and Assistance program workers, have limited time to learn how
to use the revamped website before a busy enrollment time.
Ten
questions to ask during Medicare open enrollment
Extra
benefits in Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare
Advantage plans often offer benefits beyond what Original Medicare covers, such
as vision and dental. Silver Sneakers, a gym membership program, is among the
most popular of these benefits. In recent years, the federal government has
expanded the range of extras Medicare Advantage plans can offer to include
health benefits specific to a particular condition -- for example, offering
podiatry coverage to members with diabetes. Beginning in 2020, the range of
allowed benefits is expanding to include needs such as transportation to medical
appointments, shower grab bars, meal services, and home improvements.
But
plans will not receive any additional federal funding to offer such benefits,
according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which in September published a
report based on interviews with 10 Medicare Advantage plans. Meal services and
adult day services were among the benefits the plans said they were considering
-- a few already offered these services to some members based on medical need
and planned to expand their availability.
These
extras may be appealing, but it’s still paramount to be sure the health
services coverage itself is right for you.
“On the
one hand, hey, you might actually get a real benefit that could help you out.
But people have to be aware that there are few restrictions on how plans can
market this stuff.... These benefits are marketed, but it’s not guaranteed
you’ll be eligible,” said David A. Lipschutz, associate director and senior
policy attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a patient advocacy
organization.
Medigap
change
Medigap
plans are supplemental coverage that people with Original Medicare may purchase
to help cover their out-of-pocket costs. Beginning Jan. 1, people newly
eligible for Medicare will no longer be able to purchase Medigap plans that
cover the Part B deductible, which is $185 this year. Anyone who currently has
a supplemental plan with "first-dollar coverage” can keep it. And anyone
born before 1954 will always be eligible to buy that type of plan even if they
don’t currently have one -- so long as insurers continue to offer them. It’s
unclear whether the rule change will prompt insurers to phase out those plans.
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