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Allen Heffler -Philadelphia Medicare Advantage Plans More Expensive, but may be worth It

Posted by Allen Heffler on 08/18/20114 Medicare Advantage Is More Expensive, but It May Be Worth It Article in New York Times (Aug 18, 2014)

Medicare Advantage Plans —Part C of Medicare, are private plans offered through insurance carriers, that serve as alternatives to the traditional, public program for those that qualify for it — underperform traditional Medicare in one respect: They cost 6 percent more. But they outperform traditional Medicare in another way: They offer higher quality.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/upshot/medicare-advantage-is-more-expensive-but-it-may-be-worth-it.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0

 
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Medicare in Philadelphia: Annual Enrollment Period- Allen Heffler

Posted by Allen Heffler on 08/08/2014

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is Coming- Five Things to Know

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the time of year when you can change your Medicare insurance. At this time, you are able to enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or enroll in a new stand-alone prescription drug plan Part D- PDP). You can also return to Original Medicare with or without a stand-alone Part D plan from a Medicare Advantage plan during this time. Listed below are five things to keep in mind while you are deciding on your Medicare coverage for 2015. 1. Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period occurs from October 15th to December 7th.
  • If you enroll in a plan during AEP, your coverage starts January 1.
  • In most cases, AEP is the only time you can pick a new/change Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan.
  • If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage, you can switch back to Original Medicare during the AEP. To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a stand-alone Part D plan at this time. If you leave a Medicare Advantage Plan and go back to Original Medicare, you will want to consider a Medicare Supplement (also known as Medigap) Plan. A Medigap policy helps pay Original Medicare costs, but you may be limited in your ability to buy a Medigap during AEP, depending on where you live and your health status. For more information about purchasing a Medigap please click here.
2. Review your Current Medicare Health and Drug Coverage. 
  • If you have Original Medicare, take a look at next year’s Medicare & You handbook to know your Medicare costs and benefits for the upcoming year. If you are unsatisfied with your Original Medicare coverage, you can make changes to your coverage during AEP. Changes made to your coverage will take effect January 1 of the next year.
  • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, you should receive important information from your existing plan concerning plan changes for the following year. Coverage does change from year to year, so it is important to review these changes to determine if you should stay with your current coverage or make a change.
  • Even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare coverage, take action and look at other Medicare options in your area that may better suit your individual needs in the upcoming year. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should check to see if there is another plan in your area that will offer you better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. Research shows that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year.  For example, another Part D plan in your area may cover the drugs you take with fewer restrictions and charge you less.
3. Help is out there. 
  • The website Medicare.gov is a great internet site to help you! The Plan Finder tool helps you compare plans based on the specific drugs you need, the pharmacy you go to and your drug costs.
  • If you want to join a Medicare Advantage plan, call 800-Medicare to find out what plans are in your area. When you receive the list of plans, check the plan websites to see which best fits your needs. Need additional help? Call us at 215-658-1776.
  • After you have researched a plan online, call the plan itself to confirm what you learned. Make sure the plan includes your doctors and hospitals in its network. Confirm that the plan covers all your drugs, and that your pharmacies are in the preferred network. Write down everything about that conversation. In your notes, record the date of the conversation, whom you spoke with, and the outcome of the call. This information may help protect you in case a plan representative gives you misinformation.
4. If you are dissatisfied with your Medicare Advantage plan, you can disenroll from that plan and join Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP).  
  • This Medicare Disenrollment Period is from from January 1 to February 14.
5. We are here to help! We understand all of this can be quite confusing. Just call us at 215-658-1776. We will walk you through the process, every step of the way.If you are dissatisfied with your Medicare Advantage plan, you can disenroll from that plan and join Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP).   

Medicare in Philadelphia- Turning 65 & Signing up for Medicare

Posted by Allen Heffler on 08/07/2014 Are you turning 65 soon and going on to Medicare? One question that I am asked quite often is how and when do I sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital) and Medicare Part B (Medical). In most cases, if you are receiving Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A & B. If you are automatically enrolled, you will receive your red white and blue Medicare card approximately 3 months prior to the start of Medicare, which is the first day of your birthday month (unless your birthday falls on the first of the month; in this case, Medicare starts the first of the month in the prior month). Let’s look at the following example.  You are turning 65 on December 19, and your are currently collecting Social Security.  In late August, you will receive your red white and blue Medicare card, which will be effective December 1st. If you are turning 65 and NOT collecting Social Security, you need to be pro-active and sign up for Medicare Part A & Part B. You can sign up for Medicare three months prior to your birthday month, with it being effective the first of your birthday month. You can apply online, go to a Social Security office, or call Social Security at (800) 772-1213. While you are getting your Medicare process rolling, you will also want to get the ball rolling on your Medicare insurance plan. That’s what we do! We understand Medicare is pretty confusing- we will assist you every step of the way, educating you about Medicare and all your options to help you pick the right plan at the lowest cost. Just call (215) 658-1776. Allen Heffler, President MyMedicareAdvisor – We Make Your Medicare Decision Easy.

Allen Heffler – Medicare Part D is Working Well- New Poll

Posted by Allen Heffler on 08/03/2014

Medicare Part D – Poll Shows Seniors are Happy with their Medicare Prescription Plan.

While Americans are still arguing over the Affordable Care Act, there is one aspect of our healthcare system that has been huge success- Prescription drug plan for seniors- Medicare Part D. In a new nationwide survey of seniors (65 and over), 86 percent said that they are satisfied with their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. In an era where it is rare for a policy – or a politician for that matter – to be viewed favorably by anywhere near 50 percent of the public, this Medicare Part D figure it astounding. And when you dig deeper into the results of the survey, it becomes even clearer how important it is to keep Medicare Part D intact. Eighty-six percent of seniors say their Part D co-pays are affordable, with 85 percent saying the same of their monthly premiums. Sixty-seven percent of seniors say without Part D they would be unable to fill all of the prescriptions their doctors prescribe. And 68 percent say they are better off today than they were before they had Part D coverage and 71 percent have greater peace of mind because of their drug coverage. These figures are a testament to the fact that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made the right decision to drop their proposed changes to the program after fierce opposition from healthcare stakeholders. Medicare Today chairperson Mary R. Grealy said the new survey underscores the importance of prudence in making changes to Medicare Part D that could undermine the program’s success. Grealy said, “The Part D program has transformed the lives of millions of seniors. It’s widely seen as affordable, easy to use and a good value. Policymakers should act with care before altering the structure that has made Medicare Part D one of the federal government’s most successful programs, one that advances the health of beneficiaries and is an ally to the pocketbooks of both seniors and taxpayers.” Just like an entitlement program, Medicare Part D isn’t out of the woods despite record levels of approval. Seventy-five percent of seniors are concerned about the government reducing the number of Part D plan choices available to them. We need to make sure that seniors never have to face limited plan choice or the possibility of Medicare Part D being defunded. It’s imperative that we celebrate – and protect – healthcare successes when they come. They’re too few and far between not to. Contact Allen Heffler at 215-658-1776
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