By Christina Knoell
Special to The PREVIEW
Medicare is complicated. It is important that you know your rights, options, deadlines, possible penalties and where to find the information you need.
Did you know that assistance is available in Pagosa Springs through the nationwide State Health Insurance Program (SHIP)? Trained and certified Medicare counselors are available by appointment to guide you when dealing with Medicare enrollment, questions and problems.
Medicare help has been available in Archuleta County at the Senior Center for more than 12 years. The San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the sponsoring agency for free Medicare counseling services at the Senior Center (at the community center). Please call 264-0502 to make an appointment.
Medicare eligibility begins at age 65. Three months before your birth month, you can enroll in Medicare and start making decisions about your options. Some of the things you need to consider are:
• Are you eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B? Do you need both?
• Do you have a retirement plan that will work with Medicare?
• Do you want a Medicare supplement (also called Medigap)?
• Would you prefer coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan or cost plan? Do you want a Part D drug plan? If so, which plan would work best for you? This varies depending on drugs you take.
Generally, you can enroll in Medicare online at www.ssa.gov or by calling the Social Security Administration. If you are already receiving a Social Security check, you will be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B, but will need to enroll in Part D yourself. You can also find valuable information at www.medicare.gov.
If you are already on Medicare and have a Part D drug plan, you need to review that plan each year during the Open Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, as plan premiums and coverage of drugs change each year.
Medicare counselors are available to help you during that time or you can go to www.medicare.gov to review your plan. If you are receiving Social Security disability, you will probably be eligible for Medicare starting 23 months after your disability begins and will have a limited time period to enroll in a Part D drug plan.
It is important to know enrollment deadlines to avoid penalties.
Katy Deshler, San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare counselor, will offer a free Medicare 101 class on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Ruby Sisson Library, to help you get started. The class will start at 10:30 a.m. and will run until about 11:45 a.m. Please call 264-0502 to reserve your spot as spaces are limited.
