Medicare 101 Seminar The Senior Planning Center 648 Wilton RD Farmington, ME 04938 207-778-6565
John Henninges 215-7430
Agenda 1. Medicare Parts A - D 2. Government and private plans 3. Your options 4. Prescription drugs 5. Medical Supplemental Insurance 6. Next steps
Who Is Eligible? Medicare is available to people: 65 and Older Under 65 with Disabilities Of any age with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant) Lou Gehrig's Disease
Chapter 1: Medicare Has FOUR parts A, B, C, and D Part A covers Hospital Insurance i.e. In-patient stay at hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, and Home Health Care Part B covers Medical Insurance i.e. Doctor’s Appointments, lab work at the hospital B These are called Original Medicare They are administered and provided by the federal government.
Part C Medicare Advantage Part C is called Medicare Advantage and is purchased from a private insurance company. It is not a supplement to Medicare. You can buy a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) if you: Are enrolled in Parts A and B. Live in the plan’s service area. Do not have end-stage renal disease (some exceptions apply). Medicare Advantage combines Parts A and B and may even offer prescription drug coverage. Can include additional benefits ─eye care, hearing, wellness services, nurse phone line. C
Part D Prescription Drugs Part D covers Prescription Drugs and is only offered through private insurance companies. We will talk more about this later. D
The Four Parts of Medicare Private Medical Plans Government Programs Hospital Care Medicare Advantage B D Private Drug Plans Medical Care Prescription Drugs
Chapter 2: Government and Private Plans Why can’t I just rely on Parts A and B – what the government pays for? A B Part A Premium: $0 Deductible: $1316 every 60 days Hospital Stays: Days 1-60: Deductible Days 61-90: $329 co-pay Days 91+: $658 co-pay per day (60 day lifetime limit) Skilled Nursing Care Nursing Home Care (not LTC) Hospice Home Health Services Part B Premium: $134.00 Deductible: $183.00 Co-Insurance: 20% of ALL COSTS with NO LIMIT
A private plan may help cover costs like: Deductibles Copays and coinsurance Drugs on a formulary Preventive services Dental, vision or other benefits
Chapter 3: Your Options How to Decide on a Plan Questions to consider when choosing your Medicare options 1. Do I have a chronic condition? 2. What monthly premium can I afford? 3. Can I see the doctors I want? 4. Will my prescription drugs be covered? 5. What will my out-of-pocket costs be? 6. Can I use the pharmacies I want?
You Have Two Paths to Choose from: Medicare Part A: Hospital Part B: Medical Part D: Prescription Supplemental Insurance Medicare Advantage Combines Part A: Hospital and Part B: Medical It usually includes a drug plan Medicare Part D: Prescription – You can buy it if it is not included
HMO PPO PFFS SNP Medicare Advantage You’ll use Doctors In the Network Health Maintenance Organization You’ll use Doctors In the Network You may need a Referral to see a specialist PPO Preferred Provider Organization You can use Doctors and Providers outside of the network, but often for a higher co-pay PFFS Private Fee for Service You can use any Doctors who accept the terms and conditions of the plan SNP Special Needs Plan Designed specifically to work for individual with Chronic Needs or the Dual-eligible individual.
What doesn’t Medicare Pay for? $1,316 $164.50 Per Day $183 20% Coinsurance for Part B of covered services Part A Deductible every 60 days Skilled nursing facility co-pay for days 21 – 100 Annual Part B Deductible
What Else Will Medicare Advantage Help Cover? Emergency Medical Abroad Annual Hearing Exams, Eyewear & Hearing Aids Part D: Prescription Drugs Out of Pocket Medical Annual Limit
Chapter 4: Prescription Drugs You Have Two Choices PDP Medicare Advantage with Part D Coverage Stand Alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Have You Heard about the Donut Hole?
Here’s How it Works… You Have Four Phases of Coverage Your Part D insurance pays until $3,700 in Total Part D drug spending is reached. Once $3,700 is reached, you are in the coverage gap ─ until your expenses reach $4,950. This is the “donut hole.” After $4,950 ─ you pay the greater of 5% or $3.30 for generics and $8.25 for all other drugs. You pay until you reach your deductible $400
Chapter 5: Medicare Supplemental Insurance Sometimes it’s called Medigap insurance. It is only available when you choose Original Medicare. It helps cover the gaps of what Original Medicare doesn’t — such as portions of coinsurance, copayments and deductibles Original Medicare Part A: Hospital Part B: Medical Supplemental Insurance
Medicare Supplemental Insurance BENEFITS A B C D F G K L M N Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare Benefits are used) 100 Part B coinsurance or copay 50 75 Blood (First 3 Pints) Part A Hospice Care coinsurance or copayment Skilled Nursing care coinsurance Part A deductible Part B deductible Part B excess charges Foreign Travel Emergency (up to plan limits) 80 Co-pays and deductibles vary by plan, so pay close attention to what your plan does and doesn’t cover, and when.
Chapter 6: Bringing it all Together Step One: Enroll in Medicare Parts A & B once you are eligible Step Two: You now have two options Keep Original Medicare and add: Supplemental Insurance &/or Part D Choose a Medicare Advantage: which often offers Part D benefits.
How to Enroll If you are getting Social Security when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled. If you’re not getting Social Security when you turn 65, you’ll need to sign up. Contact Social Security three months before you turn 65. If you worked for a railroad, contact the Railroad Retirement Board. Note: People on social security disability will automatically be enrolled in their 25th month of disability.
When can I Enroll? It’s a seven-month window. It includes the three months before you turn 65, your birthday month and the three months after your 65th birthday. If you don’t enroll within this window, you will face a penalty of a higher premium. For Part D, you will face a penalty that increases based on each month that you delay. For Parts C & D, you can also enroll during the “Annual Open Enrollment” (AEP). AEP runs from October 15 to December 7, and all people with Medicare can change their health care plans.
Special Election Period (SEP) You can also enroll in Parts C and D during a “special enrollment period” for special circumstances such as: Losing your employer coverage. 5 Star Plan. Moving to a new service area. Getting “Extra Help” for prescription drugs.
When can I Enroll in a Supplement? In most states, it’s a six-month window that starts when you turn 65 and enroll in Part B. What if I delay enrollment? You can still enroll but may be charged a late penalty.
Things to Remember You can enroll in Medicare three months before, the month of, and three months after your 65th Birthday. You can face a penalty if you choose not to enroll within this period. You can change your plan during AEP (October 15th- December 7th) annually, unless you qualify for an SEP.
John Henninges 215-7430