Medicare open enrollment continues through December 7
Special to The Clinton Courier
The open enrollment period for Medicare runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this time, citizens may change Medicare health or prescription coverage for the upcoming year.
“While the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) does not regulate Medicare, we are available to answer questions if you have concerns or are confused by the open enrollment process,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “My office also wants to provide information that could help you save money on your health insurance.”
To save money:
· Stay on top of routine appointments to reduce costlier and more serious procedures.
· Understand when to go to the emergency room and when to visit an urgent care clinic.
· Review coverage to see if changes are needed.
Understanding the different types of Medicare will help citizens choose the right coverage.
· Medicare Part A covers inpatient care at hospitals, nursing facilities, hospice and home health care. Most people 65 and older are entitled to Medicare Part A if they or their spouse are eligible for Social Security payments. Part A has no cost if citizens receive Social Security payments and paid payroll taxes for ten or more years.
· Medicare Part B is medical insurance that covers things like outpatient care, medical equipment like wheelchairs, and preventative screenings and vaccines. Many Part B benefits are subject to a deductible and coinsurance of twenty percent.
· Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) is extra coverage for prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing and wellness programs.
· Medicare Part D is a prescription drug benefit program. To get Part D, citizens must enroll in a program offered through insurance or other private companies.
· Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) supplements a Medicare plan and helps pay for co-payments, deductibles and more.
Citizens should be aware of scams. Individuals who contact citizens about any type of private Medicare coverage:
· Must be licensed by the state. Check with the Mississippi Insurance Department to make sure the salesperson is a licensed agent.
· May not make unsolicited contact, such as door-to-door sales, cold calls or approaching people in a parking lot.
· Must make an appointment before coming to any home.
· Must arrange in advance the type of products that will be discussed during a scheduled sales appointment. At the appointment, the salesperson may not try to sell other types of insurance coverage other than the type(s) agreed upon in advance.
· May not try to sell non-health care related products (like a life insurance policy or an annuity) during a sales or marketing presentation of a Medicare prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan.
· May not attempt to sell a plan in certain health care settings, such as a doctor’s office or a pharmacy.
· May not attempt to sell a plan at an educational event.
· May not offer free meals at promotional or sales events.
Citizens should not give out personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers to anyone who has not been verified as a licensed agent.
People are not allowed to request such personal information in their marketing activities and cannot ask for payment over the Internet. They must send a bill.
More information is available in the MID Medicare Shopper’s Guide at mid.ms.gov/consumers/pdf/medicare-supplement-guide.pdf.
