Medicare Gators

Mark your calendars Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15, 2020! It's your chance to review your coverage and see if you can save money next year. Plan premiums are at historic lows they've dropped an average of 34% over the last 3 years, and in some states up to 60%! So you may be able find a less expensive plan that meets your needs. Wondering what's new this Open Enrollment? Starting in 2021, some plans may offer a month's supply of insulin for as low as $35! Visit Medicare.gov to preview plans ahead of Open Enrollment! When comparing plans, look at the estimated "Yearly Drug & Premium Cost." A plan with the lowest premium may not always provide the lowest total cost to you.

How Medicare works with other insurance If you have Medicare and other health insurance or coverage, each type of coverage is called a "payer." When there's more than one payer, "coordination of benefits" rules decide which one pays first. The "primary payer" pays what it owes on your bills first, and then sends the rest to the "secondary payer" to pay. In some cases, there may also be a third payer. What it means to pay primary/secondary The insurance that pays first (prima...ry payer) pays up to the limits of its coverage. The one that pays second (secondary payer) only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn't cover. The secondary payer (which may be Medicare) may not pay all the uncovered costs. If your employer insurance is the secondary payer, you may need to enroll in Medicare Part B before your insurance will pay. If the insurance company doesn't pay the claim promptly (usually within 120 days), your doctor or other provider may bill Medicare. Medicare may make a conditional payment to pay the bill, and then later recover any payments the primary payer should've made. How Medicare coordinates with other coverage If your questions about who pays first, or if your coverage changes, call the Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC) at 1-855-798-2627 (TTY: 1-855-797-2627). Tell your doctor and other health care provider about any changes in your insurance or coverage when you get care.

It's important to keep taking your medications as prescribed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from COVID-19 when getting your prescriptions: If possible, call in prescription orders ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services, mail-order, or other delivery services. Try to make one trip, picking up all medicine at the same time.... If you go into the pharmacy, remember to wear a face covering and maintain social distance. Visit CDC.gov During this time, you may also want to contact your Medicare prescription drug plan to see if they've temporarily waived certain requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 like waiving prescription refill limits or relaxing restrictions on home delivery or mail delivery of prescription drugs. You can also ask your Medicare drug plan about extended-day supplies. For more general information about COVID-19 and your Medicare coverage, visit Medicare.gov.

Have you gotten robocalls, text messages, or emails offering free face masks? Or maybe you've seen social media posts about free COVID-19 testing kits, "cures," or protective equipment? Unfortunately scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal your Medicare Number and personal information. If anyone reaches out to get your Medicare Number or personal information in exchange for something, you can bet it's a scam. Prevent Medicare Fraud... Stop scams before they happen. Watch this short video and visit Medicare.gov/fraud for tips on preventing Medicare scams and fraud. If you suspect fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE to report it. See more

As communities around the country continue to re-open, you may have questions about when to resume in-person visits with your healthcare providers, and what to expect during a visit. Always check with your doctor to see what's best for your healthcare needs. Here are some considerations for in-person visits: Don't put off necessary care, especially if it's urgent or may lead to complications, such as heart attack or stroke.... Continue preventive care such as immunizations and cancer screenings. Providers and facilities will minimize exposure, so you may experience some changes during your visit. See more