While our nation's leaders continue to debate the future of our health-care system in Washington, millions of Medicare-eligible individuals have the opportunity to reform their own health-care coverage -- at home. In fact, if you are one of the more than 275,000 Medicare-eligible individuals in Utah, now is the time to make a change to your Medicare Advantage coverage for 2010.
During the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which runs until March 31, Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity to enroll in, disenroll from or change a Medicare Advantage plan. Offered through private insurance companies, the Medicare Advantage program is a critical source of comprehensive medical coverage for more than 11 million Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Advantage plans may provide flexible options, more health-care services and lower out-of-pocket costs as compared to Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement policy. Medicare Advantage plans cover everything in Medicare Parts A and B, excluding hospice care, and most plans offer additional benefits and Part D prescription drug coverage with no additional monthly plan premium.
Many companies in Utah, including UnitedHealthcare, offer 2010 Medicare Advantage plans with competitive pricing and robust benefits, so it's important for you to take a close look at the Medicare plan you've selected to make sure it meets your needs. Here are some tips to consider when reviewing your plan:
* Will your plan help you live a healthier life? Review the preventive health benefits included with your Medicare Advantage plan. Be sure the plan covers screenings for conditions you routinely want checked.
* Familiarize yourself with the extra benefits that are included in the plan such as a nurse line, eyewear, hearing aids, fitness club memberships, nationwide emergency coverage, disease management and clinical support services.
* Does your plan help you with your budget? Many Medicare Advantage plans have a low or even no additional premium. As a general rule of thumb, the more you pay in premium, the lower your cost-sharing will be if you access care.
* Make sure you understand which cost-sharing items, such as hospital visits, nursing-home stays, outpatient surgery, etc., count towards the annual out-of-pocket maximum.
* Make sure you have access to affordable medications. You might not take any medications today, but your needs can change, and you don't want to be left without coverage.
* If you want prescription drug coverage, check the plan's drug list to confirm the cost of filling prescriptions. Many plans offer very low copayments for generic brand drugs.
* Does your plan provide access to your doctor and pharmacist? Make sure the doctors you want to see are in the networks covered by the plan.
* If you travel to warmer climates in the winter, make sure your Medicare Advantage plan has out-of-state coverage that travels with you.
The federal government has calculated that people with Medicare Advantage on average have saved upwards of $1,000 annually in reduced costs and improved benefits compared with original Medicare beneficiaries. Additionally, a 2007 survey from America's Health Insurance Plans showed that a large majority of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are satisfied with their quality of care, their benefits, and the coverage they received for prescription drugs.
Health care reform starts at home. To find out more about the OEP and to compare plans available in Utah, visit www.medicare.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Chris Hard is the executive director of UnitedHealthcare (www.UHCMedicareSolutions.com) in Utah.
Comments