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Medicare Open Enrollment

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

You don’t need to sign up for Medicare each year.  However, you should review your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage and make changes if it no longer meets your needs or if you could lower your out-of-pocket expenses.

There are several things you should consider when choosing Medicare drug coverage.  If you:

  • Take specific drugs, look at drug plans that in
  • clude your drugs on their formulary (a list of prescription drugs covered by a drug plan). Then, compare costs.
  • Want extra protection from high prescription drug costs, look at plans offering coverage in the coverage gap, and then check with those plans to make sure they cover your drugs in the gap.
  • Want your drug expenses to be balanced throughout the year, look at plans with no or a low deductible, or with additional coverage in the coverage gap.
  • Take a lot of generic prescriptions, look at plans with “tiers” that charge you nothing or low copayments for generic prescriptions.

Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. As you make a decision about your prescription drug coverage, remember to review your current plan.  Look at other plans in your area to see if one may better meet  your needs.

If you are needing assistance with reviewing your prescription drug plan, contact your local K-State Research and Extension office. The extension office will be helping beneficiaries with comparison, selection and enrollment in drug plans. Email Brenda at bklangdon@ksu.edu or call any of the offices in the Post Rock District to schedule an appointment.

By: Brenda Langdon

Important Medicare Dates

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Each year brings new health plan and drug coverage choices.  Look at your current health and drug coverage each fall and make sure your plan’s still right for you. Medicare open enrollment is October 15-December 7.  This gives you an opportunity to make changes to your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

September & October

Take time to review your current plan. Review any notices from your plan about changes for next year.

October 15—Open Enrollment begins

This is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can make changes to their health and drug plans for the next year. October 15 is the first day you can change your Medicare coverage for 2022.

December 7—Open Enrollment ends

In most cases, December 7 is the last day you can change your Medicare coverage for next year. The plan has to get your enrollment request by December 7.

January 1—Coverage begins

Your new prescription drug coverage begins January 1 if you switch to a new plan. If you stay with the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will begin on January 1.

If you would like assistance with your Medicare prescription drug plan during open enrollment, call your local Post Rock Extension District office and ask to make an appointment.

By: Brenda Langdon

Medicare Fraud and COVID-19 Scams

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Scammers are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic by using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19 related scams.

Con artists may also try to get Medicare numbers or personal information so they can steal identities and commit Medicare fraud.

Medicare covers the COVID-19 vaccine so there will be no cost to you.

  • You will need to share your Medicare card with your health care provider or pharmacy when receiving the vaccine.
  • If anyone else asks you to share your Medicare number or pay for access to the vaccine, it is probably a scam.
  • Don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or emails you promising access to the vaccine for free.

Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card.

  • Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information unless you’ve given them permission in advance.
  • Medicare will never call to sell you anything.
  • You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them your Medicare number. Don’t do it.
  • Medicare can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first.

Be sure to review your Medicare claims and Medicare Summary Notices for any services billed to your Medicare number that you don’t recognize.

By: Brenda Langdon

Medicare and Social Security Benefits

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

The Social Security Administration announced the cost-of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits will be a 1.3%, increase for 2021. If you are on Medicare and receiving Social Security benefits, the premium for Medicare Part B is deducted from your benefits. Medicare Part B, covers mainly physician services, outpatient hospital services, lab, durable medical equipment, and ambulance. The majority of Medicare beneficiaries who have Medicare Part B in 2021 will pay $148.50 per month. Social Security will tell you the exact amount you will pay for Part B in 2021 as some beneficiaries pay less or more than this.

Have questions about being New to Medicare, concerns about your 2021 Medicare Part D Plan, or other Medicare questions? Brenda Langdon, Family Resource Management Agent, can help answer these questions. If you need assistance, call for an appointment.

By: Brenda Langdon

Managing Medications

Posted on by mjsaxton@ksu.edu

Managing medications can be a difficult task. It is important that you take the initiative with your doctor and pharmacist to ask why you are taking a certain medication and that you are taking it appropriately.  You should also be certain that a new medication will not interact with something you are currently taking. It’s up to the patient to ask the necessary questions and be proactive in your own health care.

It’s a good idea to have a family member be well versed in what medications you are currently taking. It is often times very helpful if you have someone you trust, such as spouse or adult child, have access to your medication list.  Your medication list is especially important to keep track of if you have multiple doctors or use multiple pharmacies. Be sure to share your list of medications each time you see a new provider or pharmacist. By consistently using the same pharmacy, they have your medication history.

Be sure to dispose of your unused medications properly. Some Kansas counties host Take Back Drug Day. This year the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day October 24th. When discarding empty medication bottles be sure to peel off the label or mark it out so that your name and type of medication cannot be read by another person. To dispose of medications in your trash at home, mix medications into an unappealing substance such as kitty litter, or used coffee grounds and place in a sealed plastic bag. Many pharmacies also sell medication disposal bags that inactivate medications placed in the bag.

Many K-State Research and Extension Agents are trained to provide advice through the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansans (SHICK) program.  Local agents provide help for individuals enrolling in Medicare and in deciding which prescription plan is right for you.  You can contact your local Post Rock District Extension office to schedule an appointment to go over your medications and determine what prescription plan is right for you.

Medicare beneficiaries can add, change, or drop their Medicare Part D plan, during the enrollment period which begins October 15 and continues through December 7th with plan changes taking effect January 1.

By: Brenda Langdon