Seniors: Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

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SUN Columnist

The Health Insurance Marketplace, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, will take effect in 2014. It’s a new way for individuals, families and employees of small businesses to get health care coverage.

Here are some questions and answers that help clarify the situation for seniors.

• If I have Medicare, do I need to do anything?

No. Medicare isn’t part of the Marketplace. If you have Medicare, you’re covered and don’t need to do anything about the Marketplace.

The Marketplace won’t affect your Medicare choices or benefits. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), you won’t have to make any changes.

Note: The Marketplace doesn’t offer Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies or Medicare drug plans (Part D).

• Does Medicare coverage meet the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that all Americans have health insurance?

If you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), you’re considered covered and won’t need a Marketplace plan. Having Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) alone doesn’t meet this requirement.

• Can I get a Marketplace plan in addition to Medicare?

No. It’s against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan. This is true even if you have only Part A or only Part B.

If you want coverage designed to supplement Medicare, visit Medicare.gov to learn more about Medigap policies. You can also visit Medicare.gov to learn more about other Medicare options, like Medicare Advantage Plans.

• Can I choose Marketplace coverage instead of Medicare?

Generally, no. As noted above, it’s against the law for someone who knows you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan. However, there are some situations where you can choose Marketplace coverage instead of Medicare:

You can choose Marketplace coverage if you’re eligible for Medicare but haven’t enrolled in it (because you would have to pay a premium, or because you’re not collecting Social Security benefits).

If you’re paying a premium for Part A, you can drop your Part A and Part B coverage and get a Marketplace plan.

Before making either of these choices, there are two important points to consider:

1. If you enroll in Medicare after your initial enrollment period ends, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare.

2. Generally, you can enroll in Medicare only during the Medicare general enrollment period (Jan. 1-March 31). Your coverage won’t begin until July of that year.

• What if I become eligible for Medicare after I join a Marketplace plan?

You can get a Marketplace plan to cover you before your Medicare begins. You can then cancel the Marketplace plan once your Medicare coverage starts.

Once you’re eligible for Medicare, you’ll have an initial enrollment period to sign up.

For most people, the initial enrollment period for Medicare starts three months before their 65th birthday and ends three months after their 65th birthday.

In most cases, it’s to your advantage to sign up when you’re first eligible because:

Once you’re eligible for Medicare, you won’t be able to get lower costs for a Marketplace plan based on your income.

If you enroll in Medicare after your initial enrollment period ends, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare.

Note: You can keep your Marketplace plan after your Medicare coverage starts.

However, once your Part A coverage starts, any premium tax credits and reduced cost-sharing you get through the Marketplace will stop.

• If I have Medicare, can I get health coverage from an employer through the SHOP Marketplace?

Yes. Coverage from an employer through the SHOP Marketplace is treated the same as coverage from an employer group health plan. If you’re getting health coverage from an employer through the SHOP Marketplace based on you or your spouse’s current employment, Medicare Secondary Payer rules apply. Visit Medicare.gov to learn more about how Medicare works with other insurance.

• If I’m getting health coverage from an employer through the SHOP Marketplace, can I delay enrollment in Part B without a penalty?

Yes. You can delay enrollment if you’re getting health coverage from an employer through the SHOP Marketplace based on your or your spouse’s current employment.

You have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B without penalty:

Any time you’re still covered by the group health plan based on you or your spouse’s current employment.

During the eight-month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens first.

If you don’t sign up during this Special Enrollment Period:

You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

You can only enroll during the General Enrollment Period which occurs each year from January-March with coverage beginning July 1.

• Can I get a stand-alone dental plan through the Marketplace?

In most cases, no. If the Marketplace in your state is run by the federal government, you won’t be able buy a stand-alone dental plan for 2014. If your state is running its own Marketplace, you may be able to purchase a stand-alone dental plan for 2014, if one is available.

• Will Medicare Advantage plans still be available after the Marketplace starts?

Yes. The Medicare Advantage program isn’t changing as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

• Is prescription drug coverage through the Marketplace considered creditable prescription drug coverage for Medicare Part D?

While prescription drug coverage is an essential health benefit, prescription drug coverage in a Marketplace or SHOP plan isn’t required to be at least as good as Medicare Part D coverage (creditable). However, all private insurers offering prescription drug coverage, including Marketplace and SHOP plans, are required to determine if their prescription drug coverage is creditable each year and let you know in writing. Visit Medicare.gov for more information about creditable coverage.

• How can I get help paying for my Medicare costs?

If you need help with your Part A and B costs, you can apply for a Medicare Savings Program. Call your state Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office. To get their phone number, visit Medicare.gov/contacts, or call (800) 633-4227. TTY users should call (877) 486-2048.

If you need Extra Help to pay for Medicare prescription drug costs, visit socialsecurity.gov/i1020, or call Social Security at (800) 772-1213. TTY users should call (800) 325-0778.

• Where can I get more information?

To learn more about Medicare enrollment, coverage, and plan choices, visit Medicare.gov, or call (800) MEDICARE.

Thank you

Once again, Liz Schnell has been busy with her knitting needles knitting up bed socks for our homebound and congregate meal participants. Some of her treasures have been made with a fair amount of the yarn donated to The Den. This year, there was an added bonus of a lap blanket, a couple of beautiful hats and a scarf. Liz, thank you for your generosity throughout the years, you are a treasure!

LPEA

In addition to Santa dealing with his usual tasks of the season, he is making time to get out and visit our homebound. Our thanks to LPEA for having a hotline to Santa to make this happen.

Activities at The Den

Friday, Dec. 20 — 10:30 a.m. Stitchin’ in the Kitchen; 12:30 p.m. gym walk.

Monday, Dec. 23 —12:30 p.m. gym walk.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 — Holiday meal, closing after lunch.

Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Closed.

Thursday, Dec. 26 — Closed.

Friday, Dec. 27 — 10:30 a.m. Stitchin’ in the Kitchen; 12:30 p.m. gym walk.

Cafe Fox menu

All meals include our great salad bar.

Friday, Dec. 20 — Red beans and rice, cornbread, peach cobbler, banana, orange wedge

Monday, Dec. 23 — Beef chili, cornbread, yellow squash, fresh apple, whole wheat crackers.

Tuesday, Dec. 24 — Holiday meal: baked ham, whipped sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry mold, tossed salad, pumpkin pie.

Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Closed.

Thursday, Dec. 26 — Closed.

Friday, Dec. 27 — Chicken and egg noodles, tossed salad, apple crisp, broccoli, whole wheat roll.

Reservations are required by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you would like to dine at Cafe Fox. For your convenience, you can make your reservation up to one week in advance by calling 264-2167, through our website at www.archuletacounty.org, at select departments and at the Senior Center.

Suggested donation for older adults age 60-plus is $4, guests $6. Our meal program is partially funded through the Older Americans Act via the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging, United Way, Archuleta County, Town of Pagosa Springs and other individual donations and grants.