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New Medicare Card Arriving Soon!

New Medicare Card Arriving Soon!This past month Medicare began mailing out new cards to everyone enrolled in the Medicare program. There are many things to keep in mind while you are waiting for your new membership card, including proper disposal of your existing card once you receive your new one. Ensure that you are not compromising your identity or insurance benefits by allowing your social security number to be stolen due to improperly discarding your old card.

When you receive your new card – note that your card has a new number instead of your Social Security Number. This new number is unique to you. Only give your new Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

For more great tips please see the Medicare Tips Page Here

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Pink Ribbons and Pumpkin Patches

Breast Cancer Awareness highlighted throughout October.

Breast Cancer Awareness highlighted throughout OctoberOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness month and our opportunity to remind women that they can take control of their breast health. Routine mammograms are covered under most health insurance plans, and early detection provides greater likelihood of successful treatment.

With nearly 40,000 deaths reported each year, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women following skin cancer. Knowing the risks and early signs is important in the early detection, while understanding one’s family history is also vital. Routine breast exams are part of a women’s well-visit and should occur every two years. If a woman is at higher risk for breast cancer than earlier and more frequent exams should be recommended.

According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation not all women experience the same signs and symptoms. Possible signs of breast cancer include:

  • Lump or hard knot in the breast or armpit
  • Swelling or redness/darkening of the breast
  • Change in size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Itchy, scaly or rash-like patches on nipple
  • Sudden discharge from nipple
  • Pain in one spot that does not go away

The presence of one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have cancer. Rather they are reasons to seek professional advice. Calling your health practitioner and scheduling a clinical breast exam and/or mammogram is the best tool for diagnosing and treatment planning. To learn more about early detection best practices, visit Susan G. Komen Foundation.

For more information on health insurance plans and breast cancer screening benefits contact Marie at Brownell Insurance, marie@brownellinsurance.com.

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Are you turning 65 or about to retire?

Whether you’re turning 65 or are about to retire, you will need to make several important decisions about your health care coverage. You will likely be eligible for a federal program, known as Medicare. Whether you’re turning 65 or are about to retire, you will need to make several important decisions about your health care coverage. You will likely be eligible for a federal program, known as Medicare. This program is offered to eligible Americans that have lived in the United States for at least five years before applying.

Upon your 65th birthday, you will have seven months to make your decision regarding your health insurance. This is considered your initial enrollment period (IEP). This enrollment period begins:

  • Three months before the month you turn 65
  • The month of your birthday
  • Ends three months after the month of your birthday
  • IEP begins and ends a month earlier if your birthday is the first day of the month

IEP is one of the set times that you can sign up for Medicare. Coverage begins the first day of your 65th birthday month, so you should consider signing up early. If you sign up the month of your birthday or the three-months after your birthday your coverage start date may be delayed.  Be sure that you do not miss this timeframe or you will be required to wait until next open enrollment of Medicare (AEP). AEP runs from October 15 to December 7 annually. There is also a possibility of fines for Part B and D coverages, if you miss your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

How do you enroll in Medicare?

  • You should be automatically enrolled in Part A and B if you are collecting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits at the time you turn the age of 65. After the 24th month of receiving Social Security disability benefits, you will receive your Medicare card automatically in the mail.
  • If you are not receiving Social Security benefits at the time you are turning 65, you will need to enroll for Medicare by yourself. You can do it either:
    • At www.SSA.gov or
    • Call or visit your local Social Security office

This initial sign up will make you eligible for Original Medicare. There are two parts to Original Medicare:

  • Part A – helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient healthcare.
    • Most Americans have already paid for this federal health insurance when they have been working for 10 years (40 quarters) and paying FICA.
      • If you have not worked for 10 years paying FICA, you will have a monthly premium of $413 (2017) in order to secure Part A coverage.
  • Part B – helps pay for your doctor visits and outpatient care.
    • There is a monthly premium that you must pay to secure this coverage. The standard monthly premium for Part B in 2017 is $134.
      • Part B premiums are adjusted based on your income. High income individuals may pay up to $428.60 a month in 2017.
      • You may have a penalty if you did not sign up for Part B when you came initially eligible. For each 12 month period that you could’ve signed up for Part B and didn’t, will cost you a 10% penalty of the monthly premium amount. This penalty will be added to your monthly premium payment as long as you are enrolled in Part B.
        • This penalty will not apply to you, if you or your spouse are still working and are still covered by group health insurance coverage when you become eligible for Medicare.
    • If you decide to take out a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Plan, you must continue to pay for this Part B coverage along with your Medicare Advantage or Supplement.

Original Medicare does not pay for everything. Some of the large medical expenses that original Medicare does not cover your prescription drugs costs and illness expenses when you travel outside the United States.

Most individuals purchase additional coverage to help cover the 20% that Medicare does not cover. This additional coverage can come from private insurance companies. The insurance is usually available under the following kinds of insurance:

  • Medicare supplement insurance plans (Medigap)
    • Helps to pay some of the out-of-pocket costs that could be due after Original Medicare pays the approximate 80% of your medical costs.
    • Gives you valuable health insurance coverage if you travel outside of the United States.
  • Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D)
    • Helps pay for medications prescribed by your doctor or other healthcare professional.
    • This coverage is based on a formulary that includes types of drugs most commonly prescribed for individuals, who have Medicare coverage.
  • Medicare Advantage plans (Part C)
    • This plan combines parts A & B and often includes prescription drug coverages (Part D).
    • This plan can also include some additional benefits such as routine vision and dental care.

We, at Brownell Insurance are well versed in Medicare. Choosing the right Medicare plan can be very confusing and costly if you make a mistake. We are ready to help you through the process of securing your Medicare coverage. If you already have Medicare and a supplement, it is important that you review your coverage annually during open enrollment. Annual Open Enrollment (AEP) is from October 15th to December 7th. There may be changes to your plan that could cause you problems the next time you need to use your Medicare coverage. Let us review your current insurance and the options that you have available to you. Over the next few blogs, different aspects of Medicare will be discussed. Brownell Insurance is here to explain and meet all of your insurance needs. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sources used to write this blog:

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How Americans Get Their Health Insurance Coverage

Healthcare is the most debated topic in the United States. Daily we are bombarded with information regarding the Republicans in the Senate and the House, and how they are trying to repeal Obamacare with no real replacement on the horizon. To better understand this complex debate, it is important to understand how Americans are getting their health insurance.

In the infographic below is based on information from the Census Bureau surveys and was created by Axios. This graphic reflects, that most Americans get their health insurance coverage from their employers with the balance of our insured population getting coverage from Medicaid,
Medicare, non-group policies, and other public sources. Also, there are approximately 29 million (9%) Americans uninsured.

How Americans Get Their Health Insurance Coverage

Definitions for each category on the infographic are provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides in-depth information on key health policy issues concerning Medicaid, Medicare, US health reform, global health and many other health topics of concern.

  • Employer-Based: Includes those covered by employer-sponsored coverage either through their own job or as a dependent in the same household.
  • Medicaid: Includes those covered by Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and those who have both Medicaid and another type of coverage, such as dual eligible who are also covered by Medicare.
  • Medicare: Includes those covered by Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and those who have Medicare and another type of non-Medicaid coverage where Medicare is the primary payer. Excludes those with Medicare Part A coverage only and those covered by Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligible).
  • Other Public: Includes those covered under the military or Veterans Administration.
  • Non-Group: Includes individuals and families that purchased or are covered as a dependent by non-group insurance.
  • Uninsured: Includes those without health insurance and those who have coverage under the Indian Health Service only.

Reviewing this infographic helps to put into perspective how many Americans are going to be affected by the healthcare debates outcome in Congress. It is paramount that we can stabilize health insurance in the United States. Many people feel that it is only the individual health market that will be affected by the repeal of Obamacare.

In truth, every person, regardless of category in the infographic will be affected. If the President and Congress decides to no longer fund subsidies for Obamacare many more Americans will be uninsured. Medicaid and Medicare could also be affected if they decide to decrease the funding for their programs. Employer-based insurance could also be affected due to extreme rising costs of healthcare with benefits often being decreased. Employers could decide to have their employees pay more for their insurance or completely drop their benefit plan. This could put many more Americans’ health insurance in jeopardy.

We, at Brownell Insurance are keeping a close eye on what is happening in the health insurance marketplace and through this blog will try to keep our clients well-informed. Contacting your state representatives and letting them know how you feel – could help them vote with their constituents in mind. We all need to take an active role in this debate.

Sources:
Infographic: http://www.visualcapitalist.com/americans-buy-healthcare/
Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/

Information for this blog came from an article on website Visual Capitalist named “Breakdown: How Americans Get Healthcare Coverage written by Jeff Desjardins on July 31, 2017.

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