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I work in HR and we have had Retiree Medical Seminars to get our population up to speed on all the plans and changes..that was the ok part since we had people representing Medicare there to answer the questions...
Then I had to read it all over again to explain it to my mom! Her plan didn't change by much but I can see where some older folks would have problems especially if they didn't have someone to help them go over the changes. I want to ask my church can we have a seminar to help since our congregation is mainly the older population.
If someone is already in a plan from their old employer, the first thing they need to find out is their plan creditable in the eyes of Medicare with the changes. If it is and their drug benefits among other parts works for them, they may not have to change. It gets sticky for those who have never been in a plan and picking which out of the #'s of plans a state will offer (PA offers i believe 52 plans).
I encourage everyone to help those who have no one to explain the new changes whether it is your older family members or even neighbors to understand the new plans. But there is a big incentive to enroll. Those who don't sign up by May or aren't part of another drug plan accepted by Medicare as equivalent will be penalized if they choose to enroll later. The premium will increase by 1 percentage point for each month that enrollment is delayed, permanently boosting the premium by 12 percent after a year
Important Dates
Nov. 15, 2005: First day you can join a plan
Jan. 1, 2006: Coverage begins for people who have joined by Dec. 31, 2005
May 15, 2006: Last day to join a plan offering coverage for 2006
Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, 2006: Next opportunity to enroll (open enrollment)
So please help if you can!
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