July - September 2019

All Things Medicare Medicare is complicated. Just when you think you have it figured out, the rules change, or you learn some new detail that you hadn’t heard before, or you find out the hard way when you get an unexpected medical bill to pay. Serving Our Seniors’ team of Medicare counselors are certified through the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP). Serving Our Seniors offers Medicare education and counseling at no charge. Medicare Q&A – Brown Bag Lunch series July – September, 2019 On July 24, August 14, and September 11, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Serving Our Seniors office, bring your bag lunch and join us as we answer your Medicare questions. You can ask anything that’s on your mind. This class is suggested for Medicare beneficiaries (new and current; care-givers and healthcare provider staff). Please RSVP to reserve your seat two busines days in advance. Call Serving Our Seniors at 419-624-1856 to register for a program or schedule an individual appointment. Other topics you may wish to schedule an individual appointment to discuss: • Medicare Advantage Plans Expanded Benefits Expanded benefits offered by with Medicare Advantage plans can make a significant difference to the insured person. The benefits may include allowance(s) for dental, vision frames/lens, hearing aids; monthly allowance for over-the-counter items (band-aids, cold medicine, pain reliever), transportation, meals, and more! • Retiree plans transitioning insured to Medicare – Know the rules! Companies that offer retiree health benefits are moving their retirees to a plan administrator to manage their retiree benefits. The retiree may be required to secure a medical plan or prescription plan (or both) through the administrator, and may be entitled to a funding benefit or reimbursement. Understanding the rules to follow is key! • Medicare effective date in Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) The open enrollment period for Medicare is a seven-month window. For example, if your birthday was in June: Birthday June 2-30 3 Months before Birth Month 3 Months after your birth month your birth month Enrollment period March, April, May June July, August, September But this is Medicare, so YES, there is an EXCEPTION: If your birthday is the first of the month, then your birth month would be considered the month before. Birthday June 1 3 Months before Birthday First of 3 Months after your birth month the Month your birth month Enrollment period February, March, April May June, July, August Patricia Stineman, MSIG, CSA, Insurance Education Specialist / OSHIIP Trainer www.servingourseniors.org 23 Find us on