FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 19, 2017 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
Find Medicare Confusing? Start Here
Navigating Medicare can be challenging.
In fact, according to a 2017
UnitedHealthcare survey, nearly 40 percent
of Medicare benefi ciaries fi nd the
program confusing. Learning the basics
can help you cut through the confusion
and make an informed decision about
which coverage option may be the right
fi t for you.
Here’s a quick guide to fi ve important
Medicare terms to help prepare for
the upcoming open enrollment period.
What is open enrollment, you ask? Well,
read on.
1. Open Enrollment Period
If you are already enrolled in Medicare
and want to make changes to your health
plan, you can do so during the annual
open enrollment period, which runs from
Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. For most people, this
is the one opportunity each year to make
changes to your Medicare coverage.
Changes made during this year’s open
enrollment period take eff ect on Jan. 1,
2018.
2. Original Medicare
Original Medicare is made up of Part
A and Part B and is off ered by the federal
government. Simply put, Part A helps
cover services such as inpatient care at
a hospital or a skilled nursing facility.
Part B helps cover doctor’s offi ce visits
and outpatient physical and occupational
therapy services.
According to Dr. Efrem Castillo, Chief
Medical Offi cer for UnitedHealthcare
Medicare & Retirement, “Original
Medicare generally covers 80 percent of
health care costs, leaving you responsible
for paying the remaining 20 percent. It
also does not have an out-of-pocket maximum,
meaning that if you have unexpected
health care costs, you could end up
with a heft y bill.”
Original Medicare does not cover
things like prescription drugs, long-term
care, hearing aids and the exams needed
for fi tting them, or routine dental or
vision care.
3. Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans, also known
as Medicare Part C, are off ered by private
insurance companies. Medicare
Advantage plans combine Medicare Parts
A and B into one plan (which means you
only need to carry one card), and can
off er additional benefi ts such as vision,
hearing, dental and even gym memberships.
Most plans also provide prescription
drug coverage.
In addition to the all-in-one coverage,
Medicare Advantage plans also have an
annual out-of-pocket maximum, making
it easier for you to estimate your health
care costs, even when facing an unforeseen
health event.
4. Medicare Supplement
Insurance (Medigap)
A Medicare Supplement policy is also
known as Medigap and is off ered by
private companies. It can help pay for
some things not covered by Original
Medicare, such as copays, coinsurance
and deductibles. Medigap plans typically
have a higher monthly premium but little
or no out-of-pocket costs when you
access care. However, Medigap plans
don’t cover prescription drugs, so you
would need to enroll in a separate Part
D plan.
5. Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D helps cover prescription
drugs. Castillo explains, “You have
two options for prescription drug coverage.
Either enroll in a standalone Part
D plan, or you can get drug coverage
through most Medicare Advantage plans.”
Make sure that the plan you select covers
the prescription medications you need.
To learn more, visit
UHCOpenEnrollment.com.
Apply for Medicare directly from your own computer
Did you know that instead of getting
a paper copy of your “Medicare & You”
handbook every fall, you can sign up to
get it electronically? You’ll not only be
helping the environment, but you’ll be
saving tax dollars too.
Th e eHandbook is the online version
of your trusted “Medicare & You” handbook
and has all the same information as
your paper copy. Th e diff erence is that
it’s updated throughout the year so you’ll
always be looking at the most up-to-date
information. It’s also searchable, so you
can fi nd the information you need quickly
and easily.
To sign up for the electronic version
of the “Medicare & You” handbook, visit
Medicare.gov/gopaperless and follow 3
simple steps:
• Enter your Medicare information.
• Confi rm that you no longer want your
paper copy of “Medicare & You” and
only want the electronic version.
• Each year, we’ll send you an email
including a link to the new online
Medicare & You. It’s instant, current,
and convenient. You’ll no longer get a
paper copy.
Help the environment and enjoy fi nding
your Medicare information faster. Go
paperless today!
From Th e Medicare Blog, published by
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, blog.medicare.gov.
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