subject: Improved Counseling And Education For Medicare Beneficiaries On The Horizon [print this page] For decades, Medicare has provided older adults and people with disabilities security in their health coverage. However, complicated rules surrounding enrollment, benefits and coverage; the addition of Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefit) and the Extra Help program; and the expansion of Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) have left many feeling overwhelmed.
With so many choices, says Alan Weinstock, insurance broker at http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com, some Medicare beneficiaries are confused and wind up with insufficient or inappropriate coverage. Thats why the Medicare Rights Center (MRC) submitted a report to the Federal government and President Obama in March 2009.
Improving Available Medicare Information
Ask most people with Medicare and youll likely find that they do not have access to understandable information or sufficient assistance for making sound choices about their health care options. They just rely on marketing materials that are more promotional than educational and can often be misleading.
Thats why the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are consolidating their Office of External Affairs and Office of Beneficiary Services into a single office which will now report directly to the CMS Administrator. The new office will be accountable for all of CMS's efforts to communicate with consumers through 1-800-Medicare, through state health insurance assistance programs (SHIP) and community-based organizations as well as through its http://www.medicare.gov web site and print publications.
This consolidation was a primary recommendation in the MRCs report. In addition, they made other important recommendations such as standardized health and drug plan choices, increased funding and support for SHIPs and other community organizations which serve people with Medicare, and improved web-based communications.
How Medicare Beneficiaries Can Help Themselves
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) provides counselors to answer your questions and help you understand your health care options, select a Medicare plan or additional health insurance plan and help you understand your Medicare rights. These programs offer free one-on-one counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their families. The names for these programs vary state by state.
In the state of California, seniors can access counselors through the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), a volunteer program that provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling and help with other health care issues. In addition, AARP has long been an advocate for the aging and offers a variety of information on its website.
Or for Medicare beneficiaries who are considering Medigap insurance to help supplement their Medicare coverage, speaking to a reliable insurance broker like the people at http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com can be very helpful.
Wherever you turn for Medicare information, be sure to be proactive and investigate your options before you turn 65.
