Page 12 - Senior Times South Central Michigan October 2023 - 30-10

Page 12 Senior Times - October 2023
200 West Michigan Avenue Suite 102 Battle Creek, MI 49017
carewellservices.org
My Medicare Matters - Medicare Annual Enrollment Begins Soon!
Heads Up for Local Users of Meridian Insurance Plans
By: Karen Courtney, Director of Programs, CareWell Services
Bronson Health and Oaklawn have both terminated contracts with Meridian Health Plans for 2024. Persons using Meridian plans for either Medicaid or Medicare will want to look at their options for change during the upcoming Annual Open Enrollment periods. Plans affected include: Meridian Health Plan Wellcare Advantage, Meridian Health Plan Medicaid, Meridian Health Plan MiHealth Link for Dual Eligibles, and Ambetter Meridian Health Exchange.
give your Medicare number out over the phone, unless you have dialed 1-800-Medicare to speak to a Medicare customer service representative. If you didn’t instigate the phone call, don’t give out your insurance or personal information, period.
plan review, the counselor will set a longer appointment time to accommodate all your needed services. They’ll also let you know the ID, insurance cards, prescription medications list, income, and asset documentation you will need to bring in order to apply or do a plan review and potential enrollment.
By: Karen Courtney, CHW Programs Director CareWell Services SW
From October 15 through December 7, you can compare, verify, and change your medication coverage for 2024.
There may have been changes to your plan that you want to check on. Keep an eye out for mailings coming from your current insurance company as they are required to notify you of coverage and cost changes.
As a reminder, MMAP counselors are able to review your Part D Prescription Plan as well as your Medicare Advantage Plan
to help make sure you understand your coverage. To be able to assist you
most accurately, counselors may require your Medicare number, date of birth, medication information,
and insurance information.
If you have previously created a MyMedicare.gov account on your computer
or smartphone, please make certain your username and password are active and accurate prior to coming to your appointment.
Compare plans at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-Medicare. Contact MMAP at 1-800-803-7174 to schedule an appointment, Please note that your new coverage will not begin until the first of the following year.
Letters have gone out to
many insured persons, notifying them of the change. Meridian beneficiaries may have to make insurance changes before the end of the year in order to keep seeing their preferred doctors.
Remember—if it sounds too good to be true, it might not
be true. The “money back in your check” claim is typically only for low-income, low-asset beneficiaries, who qualify for state Medicaid assistance paying their Part B premium. MMAP can screen you to see if you’re eligible to apply.
Counselors are also aware of local resources, like Millage’s hearing, vision, dental, and fall alert button, which don’t require you to make ANY changes to your insurance!
Persons who have both Medicare and Medicaid, who wish to use a “Duals” plan, would need to select United Healthcare Duals plan to have a plan which is accepted at BOTH Bronson Battle Creek AND Oaklawn. Oaklawn will also remain in-network with Aetna Better Health duals plan for 2024.
MMAP, the Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program, is the State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) for Medicare in the state of Michigan. MMAP benefits counselors are trained to compare public Medicare plans, including the Medicare-Medicaid duals plans. They will assist clients
in making certain all their medications are accepted by the plan, and they will help verify whether the clients preferred doctors, specialists, hospital(s), and pharmacy all participate with the plan chosen.
You can call the statewide MMAP hotline at 1-800-803-7174 to be directed to the nearest site manager’s office. You should use counselors in your home county; every county has an Area Agency on Aging, which can direct you to local counselors.
Oaklawn and Bronson both released statements last month announcing the change. Both statements listed alternative plan options in their statement. These statements can be found on the hospitals’ websites.
CareWell Services Southwest provides counseling at Kool Family Community Center
in Battle Creek and Heritage Commons Senior Enrichment Center in Marshall; call the 800- 803-7174 number to schedule appointments at those sites. CareWell Services Southwest also has trained MMAP counselors at Forks Senior Center in Albion at (517) 629-3942, Albion Health Care Alliance at (517) 629-5080, and Calhoun County office of Senior Services at (269) 781- 0846. Barry Commission on Aging handles MMAP services for Barry County. Call the statewide hotline number to geo- route your call if in Barry County, or dial direct to (269) 948-4856.
As Annual Enrollment approaches, we will be seeing more advertisements for Medicare health and drug plans. Independent for-profit, lead- generation, and sales broker companies are behind many
of the ads. It’s a big-money industry. Brokerages, agents, and other marketing businesses try
to convince Medicare recipients to switch plans, with promises
of perks in their new plans such as home-delivered meals, rides to doctors’ appointments and cash. Commission agents at the advertised numbers often never even check whether clients’ doctors participated, or if clients’ medications were on formulary with the proposed plan.
Call MMAP at 1-800- 803-7174 for free, unbiased assistance in comparing plans. MMAP counselors work by appointment only – no walk ups. When calling for an appointment, please know your annual income and approximate assets totals
– this will help counselors
phone screen you for potential cost savings programs like the Medicare Savings Program for premiums help or the Extra Help for prescription cost reductions program. If it sounds like your income and assets are close to the qualifying ranges, and you need help applying for those programs, as well as an annual
If your doctors still take your current plan and your meds are still on formulary you don’t HAVE to make any changes during open enrollment. Ignore the TV ads, and call MMAP to make sure you are still getting the most bang for your healthcare buck.
Aging and Disability Resource Line: 1-800-626-6719 General Agency Telephone: (269) 966-2450
Despite Medicare rules crackdowns, lazy opportunistic sleazy sellers will still be out there, trying to take advantage to make a quick commission buck. Be vigilant and skeptical! Do not
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