The annual 2018 Medicare Open Enrollment period has started (on October 15) and will be open until December 7. This is important to always review your choices each year! As an elder law firm we want everyone to be aware of their medical coverage and how it might affect long term care if needed.
Please do the following (If you are the adult child of a senior who cannot figure this out, you need to do this to help your parent(s):
- Gather all prescription bottles so you can talk to Medicare provider about costs for needed drugs
- Talk to doctor about coverage for medical needs and any short falls in past with coverage
- Review the closest skilled nursing homes that you would consider best place if required. Verify is these nursing homes accept this Medicare plan. If not good nursing homes, then you need to contact elder law attorney to get advice on Medicare and Medi-CAL coverage and how to get Medicare that is accepted by nursing homes in your area you would want to go to if necessary. THIS CAN BE CRITICAL!
BE AWARE THAT HMOS ARE ONLY CONTRACTED WITH CERTAIN NURSING HOMES THAT MAY HAVE LESS THAN 5 STARS RATINGS. GENERALLY, PPOS ARE BEST WAY TO FIND THE BETTER RATED NURSING HOMES.
- You can change plan from Original Medicareto Medicare Advantage (HMO), or vice versa.
- You can change plan from one Medicare Advantageplan to another plan.
- You can change plan one Medicare Part D(prescription drug) plan to another Part D plan.
- And if you did not enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, now is the time you can, but a late enrollment penalty may apply
FYI… Starting in April 2018, Medicare beneficiaries began receiving new Medicare ID cards that don’t have Social Security numbers on them to combat identity theft and fraud. When you get the new card destroy and securely dispose of the old Medicare card.
If you have questions about long term care issues, call us for a free consultation on the phone or in our office… 818.241.4238 www.la-lawcenter.com
Happy to help!