Walk In Enrollment Day December 4
Due to the fact that SHICK at the Sedgwick County Extension Office is running out of appointments we are hosting a walk in enrollment day. This event will be first come, first served. Counseling will start at 8:30 a.m. and we will go until 3:30 p.m.
A health fair will also be available to participants who are waiting for their appointment.
Please bring your Medicare card and a list of medications with you to the Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st St N, Wichita, KS, 67205.
December 4 is the only walk in day scheduled. All other days you must have an appointment in order to speak with a SHICK counselor.
New Medicare Part B Premium
The Medicare Part B premium for beneficiaries in 2010 will remain $96.40 for those who have their Medicare Premium deducted from their Social Security. There will be no cost of living increase to Social Security in 2010 so beneficiaries who pay for their Medicare with their Social Security check will not have an increase in their premium.
Those who pay their Medicare by check or EZ Pay or are NEW to Medicare in 2010 will pay at least $110.50 for their Medicare Part B.
Some beneficiaires with higher incomes will pay a higher premium. You may look in the online Medicare & You 2010 handbook on page 119 to see what these premiums would be.
Part D 2010 Kansas Statistics
Fast Facts for Kansas in 2010
● 46 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) available
● 84% of people with Medicare have prescription drug coverage (including 61% with Part D)
● 28% of people with Part D get Extra Help (also called the low-income subsidy, or LIS)
● 100% of people with Medicare have access to a MA plan for a $0 premium
● 100% of people with Medicare have access to a MA plan with maximum out-of-pocket cost limit less than or equal to $3,400
●18 PDPs have $0 deductibles
●$19.00 is the lowest monthly premium for a PDP
● $65.30 is the lowest monthly premium for a PDP with any generic coverage in the Coverage Gap
● 9 PDPs have a premium of $0 for people who qualify for Extra Help
Navigating the Prescription Drug Plan Finder on Medicare.gov
Medicare.gov is an excellent place to find the best Part D plan for yourself or the person you are caring for. This website is the same tool that SHICK counselors use to complete the comparison that we go over for you.
Anyone can access this website and use it to view available plans in your area.
The best way to find a Medicare Prescription Drug plan is to go to the Plan Finder located on the Medicare website. The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder can be found in the middle of the Medicare home page. It is in the Health and Drug Plans Box. Click on Compare Drug Plans.
The next page takes you into the plan finder. This page allows you to take many actions. You can continue on to compare available plans, enroll into a plan if you have already selected the plan you wish to enroll in, view the plan you are currently enrolled in, or you can view plans available in your state.
Click on the Find & Compare Plans button to continue to the available plans. The next page gives you two options. You may choose to conduct a personalized search or you may conduct a general search. I reccomened the personalized search if you have a Medicare Card.
The personalized search allows you to see what plan you are currently enrolled in if you are enrolled in a plan, it also shows if you have extra help to pay for your prescription drugs. If you or the person you are working with does have extra help paying for their medications the personalized search will allow the plan finder to adjust plan costs for the extra help. From the review current coverage page you will click continue to enter your medication list.
Click on the gray button that says “Enter My Drugs”. The next page is the drug select page. On this page you can enter the name of each of your medications, or you may search for the name alphabetically. Once you have entered all of your medications click continue. On this page you are be able to enter the dosages of your medications. Entering the dosage is important to determine the correct cost for you. Once you have done this click continue.
This page allows you to save your drug list. Choose a date that is easy for you to remember, such as your date of birth or anniversary. After you have clicked continue medicare.gov generates a identification number to recall your drug list. You may want to print this page and keep a copy for your records. Each time you re-enter the plan finder website you can use this ID number and Password to bring up your drug list. This information is kept forever so you may use it from year to year. Click continue.
The next page is where you can choose your pharmacy. If you live in a rural area you definately want to choose the pharmacy you would like to use to ensure that the plan you choose is accepted at that pharmacy.
Now you can just continue on to the plan data. Once you have reached the plan data you can view the available prescription drug plans.
You may compare up to 3 plans at a time by clicking in the box next to a plan and then clicking on the compare button. Once you have clicked on the compare button you will see the three plans side by side. Each column is one of the drug plans and the rows compare the same information for each plan.
Medicare vs. Medicaid
A question that comes up frequently is what is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid coverage?
Medicare is the federal program designed to insure older Americans 65 and older. You do not have to be low income to qualify. Those 65 and older are automatically eligible for Medicare. Also people who have been determined by Social Security to be disabled may qualify for Medicare.
Medicaid is a state administered program available to certain low-income individuals and families. Each state sets its own guidelines regarding Medicaid eligibility and services, but in general, people who match one of these descriptions may be eligible:
- Aged (65 years old or older), blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources
- Terminally ill and want to get hospice services
- Aged, blind, or disabled; live in a nursing home; and have limited income and resources
- Aged, blind, or disabled and need nursing home care, but can stay at home with special community care services
- Eligible for Medicare and have limited income and resources
- The parent or guardian of a child who is 18 years old or younger and your family’s income is limited, or if your child is sick enough to need nursing home care, but could stay home with good quality care at home
- Facing very high medical bills, which you cannot pay (and you are pregnant, under age 18 or over age 65, blind, or disabled)
Medicare for Caregivers
Medicare has a new website for caregivers. It is full of lots of helpful information for someone who is taking care of a person on Medicare. It has link to helpful forms such as the 1-800-MEDICARE Authorization to disclose personal health information form and many others.
FAQ for the week of August 24
Q: I am turning 65 in October, but I will continue to work. Do I need to sign up for Medicare?
A: If you or your spouse are currently working and are covered by a group health isnurance with 20 or more employees in the group then you do not need to sign up for Medicare at this time because the group insurance remains your primary insurance. Typically you would sign up for Medicare Part A since there is no premium if you have worked 40 quarters. Medicare Part B costs $96.40/month in 2009 so most people do not sign up for it if they are going to be covered under a group health plan.
Once you or your spouse decides to retire and you will no longer be covered under the group health plan you have an 8 month Special Enrollment Period starting from your last day of employment or when the coverage ends which ever happens first. During that 8 month time period you would be able to sign up for Medicare Part B without any penalty.
Medicare Part D Annual Enrollment Period
The Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Period is from November 15 to December 31 each year. Once again Sedgwick County Extension will be setting one-on-one counseling sessions for Medicare beneficiaries. Please call 316-660-0100 ext 0107 early to set your appointment because we fill up quickly.
It is a good idea to re-evaluate your Medicare prescription drug plan each calendar year. Plans change and people change. Your plan will notify you of any changes through the mail by October 31st each year. There are many ways that your plan my notify you of the changes. One of the most common is by mailing you the new information for 2009 along with your new card. Remember you DO NOT have to keep the same plan. You may change anytime from November 15 through December 31. Please carefully read all mail received from your drug plan during this time. If you do not understand what the plan has sent you then call SHICK at 316-660-0100 ext. 0117 for clarification.
2010 Part D Benefit Parameters
The paramenters for the 2010 Medicare Part D drug plans have been announced by the Centes for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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