Medicare Open Enrollment Period Begins Tomorrow

Native News Network Staff in Native Health. Discussion »

October 15

WASHINGTON - American Indians on Medicare and Medicaid can review their coverage options beginning tomorrow, October 15 and will run seven week until December 7 during this year’s shorter Medicare Open Enrollment Period.

With more benefits, better choices and lower costs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging people with Medicare and their families to begin reviewing drug and health plan coverage options for 2012.

This will give seniors and people with disabilities more time to compare and find the best plan that meets their unique needs. Across the country, HHS officials will hold 150 events in the days leading up to Medicare's Open Enrollment Period to inform and educate people with Medicare.

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, people with Medicare can get certain preventive services for free and can get more affordable prescription drugs," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Open enrollment is seniors' chance to review their Medicare choices and pick the plan that works for them, or keep the plan they have today."

Beginning today, people with Medicare can begin reviewing the 2012 quality ratings for Medicare Advantage health plans (Part C) and prescription drug plans (Part D) for the upcoming year.

This year CMS is highlighting plans that have achieved an overall quality rating of 5 stars with a high performer or "gold star" icon so people with Medicare can easily find high quality plans. People with Medicare can switch to an available 5-star plan at any time during the year.

Using Medicare's Plan Finder - available at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan » - people will see the enhanced star ratings for 2012. In addition to the enhanced star ratings for 2012 and new "gold star" icon, Plan Finder users will see an icon showing which plans received a low overall quality rating for the past three years.

"Over the past year, we have worked to improve health coverage choices for people with Medicare, and make it easier for people to find a plan that is both a good value and meets their health care needs," said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D. "Due to these efforts, people with Medicare have good, meaningful choices for their 2012 plan options."

In 2012, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, additional benefits to people with Medicare include lower prescription drug costs through a 50 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the coverage gap (also referred to as the "donut hole"), wellness checkups, and access to certain preventive care with no copayments - a benefit that all Medicare Advantage plans will offer starting in 2012.

Resources for Medicare Beneficiaries

People with Medicare, their families and other trusted representatives can review and compare current plan coverage with new plan offerings, using many proven resources, including:

Visiting www.medicare.gov », where they can get a personalized comparison of costs and coverage of the plans available in their area. The popular Medicare Plan Finder tool has been enhanced for an efficient review of plan choices. Spanish Open Enrollment information is available.

Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Multilingual counseling is available.

Reviewing the 2012 Medicare & You handbook. It is also accessible online at: www.medicare.gov/publications » - and it has been mailed to the homes of people with Medicare.

posted October 14, 2011 7:00 am edt