Presented by Stephanie Minor Statewide Senior LinkAge Line® Coordinator Minnesota Board on Aging Medicare in Minnesota 2011 Your Medicare After Health Care Reform: Making the Best Possible Decisions November 9, 2010

Overview: Minnesota Changes 2011 All companies with one exception, are offering plans in 2011 that also offered plans in 2010 Some plan premiums have increased Some plan premiums have decreased More plans have an annual Part D deductible –$310 or less New preventive benefit Reduced cost sharing for most preventive services

Medicare Benefit Change 1: Medicare Preventive Health Care Services Any Medicare-covered service recommended with a Grade A or B by the United States Preventive Task Force (USPSTF) must be fully covered under Medicare beginning 1/1/2011. –Part B deductible does not apply –No Part B co-insurance –Does not apply to all Medicare preventive benefits

Medicare Benefit Change 2 NEW BENEFIT Annual Medicare Wellness visit Annual visit includes –Establish or update the beneficiary’s medical and family history –List the beneficiary’s current medical providers and suppliers and all prescribed medications –Record measurements of height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure and other routine measurements –Detect any cognitive impairment –Establish a screening schedule for the next 5 – 10 years including screenings appropriate for the general population and also any additional screenings that are appropriate because of the beneficiary’s individual risk factors –Provide personal health advice and coordinate appropriate referrals and health education START DATE: January 1, 2011

Medicare Benefit Change 3 Reduced Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) Donut Hole Beneficiary Costs 2010 –$250 Rebate Check for beneficiaries who reach the donut hole anytime in 2010 –Beneficiaries with Medical Assistance and Medicare (dual eligible) and people receiving the Medicare Part D Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) are not eligible for the $250 rebate 2011 –50% discount on brand name drugs purchased while the beneficiary is in the donut hole –7% discount on co- insurance for generic drugs purchased while the beneficiary is in the donut hole. Beneficiary pays 93%

Medicare Benefit Change 4 New Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period January 1, 2011 – February 14, 2011 During this new Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period, –Beneficiaries can dis-enroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare –Beneficiaries can enroll in a Stand Alone PDP plan for Part D coverage –Beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan cannot switch to another Medicare Advantage plan –Beneficiaries in Original Medicare cannot enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan

Medicare Benefit Change 5 Annual Election Period Change Annual Election Period –Beginning Fall 2011, (for the 2012 plan year) the Annual Election Period will change to October 15, December 7, 2011 (54 days) Will need to make plan changes during this time period –No changes from December 8 – December 31, 2011 Plan enrollment effective date will be January 1, 2012

Medicare in Minnesota 2011 Medicare Advantage Options –4 Local HMO Plans –9 Preferred Provider Organization Plans –4 Private Fee-For-Service Plans –3 Special Need Plans for Chronic Conditions –8 Special Need Plans for Duals 65+ –4 Special Need Plans for Duals under age 65 Other Medicare Plans –18 Cost Plans Stand Alone Prescription Drug Plans –33 Plans

The SHIP in MN (MNSHIP) = Senior LinkAge Line® State Health Insurance Assistance Program 375 certified volunteers in Minnesota Medicare and long-term care option experts located in your community Unbiased, Comprehensive, Neutral source State based program that provides –One to one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families –Free service provided through phone, in person, online chat, community events and media activities –Grants provided by CMS –MN Board on Aging is the grantee Senior LinkAge Line® Available in all 87 counties of Minnesota through the Area Agencies on Aging

Senior LinkAge Line®: Your Link to An Expert Senior LinkAge Line® –Statewide –Objective –Comprehensive –Individualized assistance by phone, by online chat, in your community and in your home –There is no fee for assistance provided –Does not sell, endorse or promote any insurance, long-term care or health care product

MinnesotaHelp Network™ is here to help you Senior LinkAge Line® Disability Linkage Line® Veterans Linkage Line™ LinkVet (including Live Chat) Local community based sites throughout Minnesota 2011 edition of Health Care Choices available November 2010

Health Care Choices 2011 Available online at and –November 12 (scheduled) Print copies provided to the Area Agencies on Aging (Senior LinkAge Line®) for local community distribution –November 15 (scheduled) Call to request a copy by leaving your name, address and phone number Includes all Minnesota plan options Expanded sections –Long-term Care –Medicare Supplements –Affordable Care Act

Questions? Thank you! Stephanie Minor