MEDICARE & YOU

1. MEDICARE & YOU Fitting the Pieces Together

2. Introduction • Sue Brown, Leda Welke and Jane Mahoney, Elderly Benefit Specialists • Aging and Disability Resource Center • 721 Oxford Avenue, Room 1550 • Eau Claire WI 54703 • Email us: adrc@co.eau-claire.wi.us • Call us:  715 839-4735, Toll free  1-888-338-4636  tty: use Relay (711) • Web site: http://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us (click on ADRC link on home page) • *If a page number follows a particular section in this Power Point, it is referring to corresponding information in the Medicare & You 2012 book

3. MEDICARE • The federal government healthcare coverage for people 65 and older, or, those (if under 65) found disabled by the Social Security Administration. Eligibility does NOT depend on income or assets. • Medicare year is from January thru December • If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefit prior to age 65, you will receive a Medicare card by mail with your Part A & Part B start date. You MUST notify Social Security if you do NOT want Part B starting at that time. (P. 20) • If you are not receiving Social Security retirement benefit, YOU must contact Social Security before your 65th birthday. You can enroll on-line. (P. 21)

4. Medicare part a – hospital/inpatient • Inpatient hospitalization, skilled nursing facility, inpatient psychiatric care (190 day), hospice, some home healthcare • Premium free if you have enough Social Security work quarters. If not, you will be assessed a premium • Deductible of $1,156.00 (2012) per benefit period (60 days) (P. 34) • Initial Enrollment period: 3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after turning 65 (P. 22)

5. Medicare part b • Medical/Outpatient • Doctor visits, Outpatient services, and other services Part A does not cover • Enrollment periods: (P. 22) • Initial – 3 months before, the month of, 3 months after starting Medicare • Special enrollment period - when group coverage thru employment ends (P. 23) • General - Between January 1 and March 31 each year; coverage begins July 1

6. Medicare care part b • May have late enrollment penalty if you do not sign up when first eligible AND do not have other creditable coverage. • Monthly premium: $99.90 (2012) • Annual deductible : $140.00 (2012) changes every year • Pays approx 80% of approved amount for almost all reasonable & necessary medical services

7. Medicare part b • Premiums higher for persons with income over $85,000/single $170,000/joint • Premium deducted from Social Security benefit or, if not receiving a benefit yet, beneficiary will be billed quarterly • Assistance available for premium payment if income/asset guidelines met (P. 102)

8. Medicare supplement insurance • Medicare supplement aka Medigap (P. 66) • Private secondary health insurance designed to fill in the “gaps” after Original Medicare pays according to State and Federal laws • example: deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments • Costs vary depending on insurance company (average between $150 - $300/m) • Guaranteed renewable for life unless you commit fraud or you don’t pay the premiums

9. Guaranteed issue rights • Insurance companies • Required to accept your application for a Medicare supplement policy • Can’t deny you coverage • Must cover pre-existing conditions • Can’t charge you more for pre-existing, past or present health conditions • 6 month open enrollment when Part B first becomes effective, when you turn 65 OR 24 months after date of disability determination. (disabled persons receive a second open enrollment when they turn 65) • GUARANTEED ISSUE RIGHTS: up to 63 days when loss of coverage is involuntary, includes employer/retiree groups, medical assistance, or Medicare Advantage

10. MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT COVERAGE • Basic Benefits: • Covers the 20% gap in coverage after Medicare Part B • Covers co-payments for hospitalizations and skilled nursing care • Additional Inpatient Psychiatric Care (175 days lifetime) • First 3 pints of blood • Additional 40 home health care visits

11. Wisconsin Mandated Benefits Applies ONLY to policies purchased in Wisconsin Coverage for usual and customary cost of non-Medicare covered chiropractic care Coverage for 30 days non-Medicare SKILLED nursing facility care with no prior hospitalization required (per benefit period) $120 Preventive Health Care Benefits to cover routine services such as physical examinations, immunizations, and health screenings

12. OPTIONAL BENEFITS • Part A deductible rider (covers the $1,156.00 deductible) • Part B deductible rider ($140.00 annual deductible) • Part B excess charges rider (covers the excess charges a provider can charge over the approved Medicare amount if provider doesn’t accept Medicare Assignment)

13. Optional benefits • Additional Home Health Care (up to 365 visits per year) • Foreign travel emergency • New optional benefits (effective June, 2010) • Part B 100% deductible with co-pays for office and ER visits • Part A 50% deductible (no out-of-pocket maximum)

14. TYPES OF MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS • “Free Standing” Traditional Medicare Supplement Policies • Medicare Select Policies (defined network of providers) • Cost-Sharing Supplemental Policies (K & L – new for 2006) • K Plans –share in costs after Medicare at 50% rate • L Plans – share in costs after Medicare at 25% rate

15. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS • What is an Advantage Plan? • Private Medicare Replacement plans, replace original Medicare A&B (P. 70) • Enrollments Periods (must have Parts A&B to enroll) • Initial Enrollment: 3 months prior, the month of, 3 months after starting Medicare • Open Enrollment : October 15 – December 7 • Special Enrollment: i.e. relocation, trial period, loss of group. • Disenrollment : January 1 – February 14

16. Advantage plans • Lock-in: You will be locked into your plan of choice (can only change during annual enrollment stated above) • Trial Periods: May be allowed to disenroll back to Original Medicare during initial 12 months • No health care questions except for end stage renal disease

17. TYPES OF ADVANTAGE PLANS • Private Fee for Service (PFFS) • Preferred Provider (PPO) • Managed Care (HMO) (some plans have POS/point of service option) • Special Needs Plans (for persons with chronic diseases or for persons on Medical Assistance or for persons in institutional settings) • Medicare Savings Accounts(coverage under an Advantage plan once deductible is met; Savings account with $ deposited from Medicare. May have income tax ramifications)

18. PREMIUMS/COSTS ADVANTAGE PLANS • Must continue to pay the Part B premium • Premiums vary by plan (range $0 - $254.00 per month for plans available in Eau Claire County for 2012) • Medicare pays the Advantage plan a set amount every month to cover Medicare services; you share in the cost with co-pays/co-insurance • Co-pays for every covered service with most Advantage plans • Maximum out of pocket limits may vary by plan

19. ADVANTAGE PLANS • Plans can change premiums/co-pays, coverage options on a yearly basis pending CMS approval • Plans send Annual Notice of Change each year in the fall • (VERY IMPORTANT) • Providers may choose to “Balance Bill” up to 15% to beneficiaries enrolled in PFFS

20. Employee/retiree group health coverage • Includes coverage thru employer (p. 95) • Active employee health coverage, retiree coverage, COBRA Continuation Coverage, Federal Employer Health Benefits • Each plan has its own premiums/co-pays associated with the “approved contract” purchased by the employer • Contract may change at any time • May include “creditable drug coverage.” (ask before enrolling in Part D) • May provide Primary (if actively working and number of employees are ≥ 20 for 65 and up or ≥ 100 for disabled) OR Secondary coverage to Original Medicare

21. OTHER SECONDARY HEALTH COVERAGE • Heath Insurance Risk Sharing Plan (HIRSP) • Wisconsin HIRSP plan makes insurance available to Wisconsin residents who have either (1) lost their employer sponsored group health insurance OR (2) are unable to find adequate health insurance in the private market due to their medical condition(s). • 1-800-828-4777 Web site: www.hirsp.org • Federal high risk pool is a program for people who have been without health insurance for at least 6 months AND who have a pre-existing condition, which prevents them from obtaining health insurance in the private market. • 1-888-253-2698 Web site: www.hirsp.org

22. MILITARY COVERAGE • Veteran’s Benefits (VA facilities only) (P. 96) • Prescription coverage is “creditable” • Does not coordinate with Medicare • Need to meet priority level of coverage • May want to purchase additional insurance

23. Military coverage • TRICARE for Life/Champ VA (P. 96) • Prescription coverage is “creditable” • Does coordinate with Medicare • No additional insurance needed (acts as a Medicare supplement)

24. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (MEDICAID) • Benefits received are dependent on gross income and cash assets. Benefits range from full MA to help with paying Medicare Part B premiums. Apply at county Department of Human Services

25. PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE OPTIONS • Medicare Part D Prescription Plan (P. 84) • Anyone on Medicare is eligible • Began 1/1/2006 • Enrollments (can only make one selection per period) • Initial Enrollment Period: 3 months prior, month of, 3 months after starting Medicare • Open Enrollment Period: October 15 thru December 7 • Special Enrollment Periods for specific circumstances

26. Part d plan costs • Costs: • Premiums vary according to plan ($15.10- $109.10/month) • Co-pays vary per drug, per plan, per pharmacy • Standard plan: (P. 87) • Deductible: 0 - $320 (2012) • 25% of the first $2,930.00 in drug costs (initial coverage limit) • Pay 86% for generic meds and 50% for brand name meds in the coverage gap up to $6,657.50 • Pay 5% of costs thereafter (catastrophic)

27. Costs continued • May be assessed a penalty if not enrolled in a Part D drug plan OR have other creditable drug coverage (P. 90) • For 2012: penalty = # of months without creditable coverage x $0.31 • Enrollees will receive an Annual Notice of Change each year in the fall. • VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION • Low Income Subsidy “EXTRA HELP” (P. 98) • Assistance available for persons with low income/limited resources • Automatically eligible if on any Medicaid program • Apply through Social Security

28. SENIORcare • Eligible if age 65 and over and Wisconsin resident • Recognized by Medicare as “creditable coverage” • Cost $30 (application fee) per person for 12 months coverage • Benefits received depends on income, four levels of coverage • Complete application on your own – no special enrollment period • Extended thru 2012

29. OTHER CREDITABLE RX COVERAGE • Employer/Retiree Groups Prescription coverage (check with employer) • Military/Veteran’s Prescription coverage • Will NOT incur penalty with Part D if you have “creditable” RX coverage • NON-CREDITABLE PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS • Discount Programs (Badger RX) • Canadian/Mexico mail-order • Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs • NACO Prescription Discount Card Programs

30. MAKING YOUR COVERAGE DECISION • The decision to purchase insurance is a personal choice and should be based on your personal health care needs • There are many options to consider for best possible care • Keep in mind the potential out–of-pocket costs if insurance decisions are not made in a timely manner • Medigap counselors are available for your assistance to help you with possible options available to you – call 1-800-242-1060 for further questions

32. Manage Your Medicare Claims @ MyMedicare.gov

33. Prepared by: Vicki Buchholz Medicap Helpline, Lead Medigap Insurance Counselor Sue Brown , Leda Welke, Jane Mahoney Elderly Benefit Specialists Medicare & you