Health Care Reform Now - Take a Second Look

Although the Republicans are not in power, it is important to take a second look at health care reform from another perspective. 

By the way, contrary to what Obama and the Democrats are saying, the Republicans are not the party of no. We owe it to ourselves and to our family to become informed on what both sides are proposing regarding health care reform, then make a decision, and let our voices be heard.

Some of the reforms the the Republicans would like to enact into law include:

• Allow insurers to sell policies across state lines
• Create new state high-risk pools or reinsurance programs to provide people access to health insurance
• Allow small businesses to pool together in associations to purchase health insurance thus making it more affordable
• Discourage "junk" lawsuits by changing medical liability laws to limit non-economic damages
• Crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid
• Beef up incentives for employer-sponsored "wellness programs" so that workers who participate could get bigger breaks on insurance premiums

Check the The Republicans' Plan for more information.

How to Save Money on your Medicare Choices

If you have Medicare Part A and Part B during this Open Enrollment Period, (January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010), you can take certain steps to improve your health care and save money.

a. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plans/prescription drug plan(MA/PD), you can change to an MA/PD plan.

b. If you have original Medicare and a stand-alone prescription drug plan, you can change to a MA/PD plan.

c. Or, if you just have Original Medicare, you can change to a MA plan without a prescription drug plan.

The change would benefit you if you can get a lower premium for the MA/PD plan or PD plan.

Also, you need to consider whether the drugs you use are included in the plan's formulary.

Email me at www.yourconsultantsite.com if you need help in making the right choice.

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Get Your Medicare Benefits – Key Choices for Seniors

For seniors, it is time again to make important choices concerning your health care benefits.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary you must become well informed to get and manage the benefits you are entitled to.

Original Medicare is the federal health care program for almost all Americans age 65 and older and for many adults with permanent disabilities. You are eligible for Medicare if you are:

• a US citizen and eligible to receive Social Security;
• or you are under 65, permanently disabled and have received Social Security disability insurance payments for at least two years;
• or you have a permanent kidney failure or need a kidney transplant; or you have Lou Gehrig's disease.

You have options of not paying the deductible and coinsurance that are part of Original Medicare by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP). However, if you don’t join a MAP, beginning January 1, 2010, under Original Medicare, the deductible for inpatient hospital care per each benefit period is $1,100 for days 1-60, not per day; then $275 per day for days 61-90; and $550 for days 91-150. For doctor visits, it is a 20% coinsurance after the $155 deductible.

Opportunity to Switch Plans
However during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) from November 15, until December 31th of each year you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan, or switch Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D Prescription Plans if you choose to do so. From January 1st until March 31st of each year, called the Open Enrollment Period, you can still join or switch MAPs or leave your plan and return to Original Medicare as long as you don’t add or drop drug coverage.

The IEP (Initial Enrollment Period) is still available for those who are just turning 65 and thus are aging in. If you have dual eligibility, that is, if you are entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B and are eligible for some form of Medicaid benefit, you are under the SEP (Special Election Period) which allows beneficiaries to make an enrollment change outside the regular enrollment periods. As a Dual Eligible, you can change from one Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plan to another or from Original Medicare and a Prescription Drug Plan to a Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug Plan anytime during the course of the year.

Retirement Considerations
If you are retiring, and in an employer-sponsored plan, before joining a Medicare private plan, talk to your employer or former employer to be sure you won't lose valuable retiree health benefits if you sign up with a private plan. Many employers offer retiree health coverage as a supplement to traditional Medicare. Some also offer coverage through a Medicare HMO and other private options.

Some private plans also offer a Special Needs Plan (SNP) designed to address the identified chronic needs - hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes of a targeted population. If you have at least one of these conditions, you are eligible to enroll in this plan during the SEP.

Contact me for a free consultation, (773)614-3201, wwillbar@gmail.com

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