Be A Smart Shopper during Open Enrollment

THE MEDICARE BLOG

THE OFFICIAL BLOG FOR THE U.S. MEDICARE PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MEDICARE.GOV

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT: BE A SMART SHOPPER

*REPOST* Brought to you by The Medicare Blog:

Whether groceries, health insurance, or anything else, everybody wants to get the best value for their money. And health care is no different—that’s why it’s a good idea to shop around for a plan. Cost is an important factor in any purchase, especially when it comes to health care, but it’s not the only thing to consider.

There may be dozens of Medicare plans in your area, all with different costs and levels of coverage. How much are each plan’s premiums and deductibles? How much will you pay for the benefits and services you’re likely to use? Is there a limit on what you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for the year? If you’re currently in a plan, how does that plan stack up to the other plans that are available? Thinking about these things will help you make a smart choice to get good value that meets your own health care needs.

Prescription drug coverage is another part of the cost puzzle. How much will your prescriptions cost under each plan? Does the plan cover the drugs you take? Remember, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, everyone who reaches the Part D coverage gap (or “donut hole”) will benefit from a discount of 60% on covered brand-name drugs.

Only you can determine what mix of benefits and costs will work best with your needs and budget, but we can help. The Medicare Plan Finder makes it easy to compare plans so you can pick a plan that meets your needs. After you’ve narrowed your options, you can call the plans you’re interested in to get more details about their benefits and services, or check out their websites.

And lastly, protect yourself from Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud wastes a lot of money each year and results in higher health care costs and taxes for everyone. Con artists commit Medicare fraud by getting people’s Medicare number. You can help fight Medicare fraud by never giving your Medicare number to get a free offer or gift. Protect your Medicare by protecting your Medicare number.

If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of Medicare fraud, you can:

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
• Report it online to the Office of the Inspector General.
• Call the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). TTY users should call 1-800-377-4950.

Brought to you by: Medicare

Read More @ https://blog.medicare.gov/2016/10/17/medicare-open-enrollment-smart-shopper/?linkId=31022960

Open Enrollment

It’s your choice: Take advantage of open enrollment

*REPOST* Brought to you by UHC:

https://www.uhc.com/newsletters/september-2016/take-advantage-of-open-enrollment?srcName=smf-ban

If your employer offers health benefits, you may start hearing soon that it’s time for open enrollment. This is the time of year when you can make choices about your coverage for the next year. Open enrollment is sometimes called annual enrollment or benefits enrollment.

Before you know it, it will be time to choose your coverage. So take a moment to review these tips and tools that may help you prepare.

Seven questions to ask

Your employer may offer one health plan or multiple options for health coverage. When deciding what’s right for you and your family, keep these questions in mind:

1. Is my doctor in the network?

If you have doctors or specialists you like, be sure they’re in the network of the plan you choose. Why? Your costs are usually lower when you use a network doctor.

Visit myuhc.com® to find out if your doctor is in the plan’s network. You can also find a doctor with theUnitedHealthcare Health4Me® mobile app.

2. Is my medicine covered?

Most plans have a list that shows which prescription medicines are covered. It’s called a formulary or Prescription Drug List (PDL).

To see which medicines are on your plan’s list, go to myuhc.com — and click on “Pharmacies & Prescriptions.”

3. Who else needs to be on my plan?

Some plans offer coverage for your spouse, partner or children. These are your dependents. If the plan offers dependent coverage, children under age 26 without their own health coverage can be on your plan.

4. What type of health coverage is right for me?

You may be offered a choice between a “traditional” copay health plan and a high-deductible health plan. With a traditional copay plan, your monthly premium will be higher — and you will pay a fixed copay amount, such as $25, for each doctor visit. With a high-deductible plan, your monthly premium may be lower. But you may have a higher share of out-of-pocket costs.

How do you decide what’s right for you? Think about what health care services you and each family member might need in the coming year. For example:

• Are there medications you take routinely?
• Are you planning to have surgery?
• Do you see a doctor regularly for a health condition?
• Are you planning to have a baby?

5. What other costs should I plan for?

In addition to the premium and deductible, you may also have copays or coinsurance. To learn more about the difference, see this infographic.

Then try this worksheet to help you plan for your potential costs.

6. Will I have access to an HSA, HRA or FSA?

Check with your employer to see if a health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement account (HRA) or flexible spending account (FSA) is available to you.

These are all ways to use tax-free money to help pay for medical expenses. But there are differences. Learn more in this infographic.

7. What other benefits does my employer offer?

Carefully read the information your employer sends you. Some health plans include incentives for healthy living. And your employer may offer dental, vision or disability benefits too.

What to do next

Start planning for your health care costs in the coming year:

• Fill out this helpful health costs worksheet.
• Watch for emails from your employer about open enrollment dates.
• Take time to consider your options — so you can choose a plan that’s right for you.

© 2016 United HealthCare Services, Inc.

Countdown to Open Enrollment

THE MEDICARE BLOG

*Repost* Brought to you by Medicare.Gov https://blog.medicare.gov/…/medicare-open-enrollment-ready…/

THE OFFICIAL BLOG FOR THE U.S. MEDICARE PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.MEDICARE.GOV

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT: ARE YOU READY TO PICK A PLAN?

It’s picking season—pumpkins, apples, Halloween candy… and a Medicare health or drug plan. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15–December 7!

Picking a plan is an important and personal decision. Each person has a unique set of priorities. When you sit down to review your Medicare health and drug plan choices this year, keep track of the things you may want in a plan, and pick one that’s right for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind while you consider your choices:

Does the plan cover the services you need?

Future health care needs can be hard to predict, but changes happen. Make sure you understand what services and benefits you’re likely to use in the coming year and find coverage that meets your needs. If you have other types of health or prescription drug coverage, make sure you understandhow that coverage works with Medicare. And, if you travel a lot, look to see if your plan covers you when you’re away from home.

No matter what plan you pick, you’ll get these benefits:

• A discount of 60% on covered brand-name drugs if you reach the Part D prescription drug coverage gap (“donut hole”)
• A free yearly “wellness” visit, so you can sit down with your doctor and talk about your health concerns and the best ways to stay healthy
• A host of preventive tests and screenings—including cancer screenings—most at no cost to you

What’s the cost?

The lowest-cost health plan option might not be the best choice for you—consider things like the cost of premiums and deductibles, how much you pay for hospital stays and doctor visits, and whether it’s important for you to have expenses balanced throughout the year.

How about convenience?

Your time is valuable. Ask yourself these questions: Where are the doctors’ offices? What are their hours? Which pharmacies can you use? Can you get prescriptions by mail? Do the doctors useelectronic health records or prescribe electronically?

Quality is important!

Not all health care is created equal, and the doctors, hospitals and facilities you choose can impact your health. Open Enrollment is also a good time to ask yourself whether you’re truly satisfied with your medical care. Look for plans with a 5‑star performance rating—the right expertise and care can make a difference.

Remember, even if you’re happy with your current plan, these answers might change from year to year, so it’s important to take the time to compare. The Medicare Plan Finder makes it easy to compare plans based on all of these factors, so you can pick a plan that meets your needs.

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