NIAGARA network
Helping People Move Forward with
Get ready for Medicare’s
Open Enrollment
you’re still getting
your handbook by
mail, you can opt
to go paperless
for next fall and
download an
electronic copy.
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period is
underway and will last until December 7.
You can enroll in health and drug plans
for 2020. Use these 5 quick tips to get
ready for Medicare’s Open Enrollment.
1. CHECK YOUR MAIL. You may
get important notices from your
current plan, Medicare, or Social
Security about changes to your
coverage or any Extra Help you
may get paying for prescription
drugs. You’ll also get brochures
from companies that offer Medicare
health and prescription drug plans.
Just remember — plans aren’t
allowed to call or come to your
home without an invitation from
you.
2. REVIEW YOUR NEW
“MEDICARE & YOU”
HANDBOOK. It has information
about Medicare coverage, as well
as Medicare plans in your area. If
3. REVIEW YOUR CURRENT
COVERAGE. Plans change and
your needs change. Carefully
review any materials and changes in
costs or coverage that will happen
in 2020. Decide if your current
Medicare coverage will meet your
needs for the year ahead.
4. PREVIEW 2020 HEALTH AND
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS
ONLINE. The new and improved
Medicare Plan Finder makes
it easier than ever to compare
coverage options and shop for
plans. For a personalized search, log
in or create an account (if you have
a Medicare Number) to create or
access a list of your drugs, compare
your current plan to others, and see
prices based on any help you get
with drug costs.
5. GET PERSONALIZED HELP
IN YOUR COMMUNITY. You
may find a free local event nearby,
with health insurance counselors
to help you, like your State Health
Insurance Assistance Program.
GECAC APPRISE
Program
The APPRISE Program is a free health
insurance counseling program designed
to help Pennsylvanians with Medicare.
Coordinated by the Pennsylvania
Department of Aging, and known as
the State Health Insurance Program
(SHIP) in other states, APPRISE utilizes
trained counselors to help people
navigate through the complexities of
Medicare. APPRISE Counselors answer
questions and provide objective, easy-to-
understand information about Medicare
and coverage options. Counselors
assist Medicare beneficiaries in making
educated decisions based on their
individual situation. Counselors are
unbiased and do not sell or endorse any
one insurance plan over another. If a
Medicare recipient encounters problems
with their plan, they receive help towards
getting them resolved.
APPRISE staff and volunteers are a
source for information on important
dates and changes as it relates to the
Annual Open Enrollment Period
(AOEP), plan changes, and other
important issues related to Medicare.
Other issues include out of pocket costs
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