I know this is a site you might know where to get the information, but just
in case somebody doesn't. A newbie might not know about open enrollment and
how to switch their Medicare plans.
It can be confusing. I am on Medicaid so the state automatically put me on
AARP for Medicare D. My local pharmacy bills for the co-pays. It can be
confusing especially he also have a private insurance and that I have to order
a
couple of my medications through the mail order, because they were not
covered by Medicaid for some reason.
I am fortunate that my pharmacy delivers, so many in the area do not.
Dana .
**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)
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Medicare Rights Center
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Dear Marci -- Your trusted source for Medicare answers
Topic of the Month:
Things to Remember Before March Is Over
* * * * * *
This week, in Marci . . .
Volume 7, Issue 11: Week of March 17, 2008
* Dear Marci: Is it too late for me to disenroll from my Medicare private
health plan?
* Get Resources: Resources to answer your Medicare questions.
* Health Tip: Learn important safety tips during National Poison Prevention
Week.
* Survey Says: Drug ads prompt more Americans to fill new prescriptions.
* * * * * *
To make sure you continue to receive our e-mails in your inbox (not bulk or
junk folders), please add [EMAIL PROTECTED] to your address book or safe sender
list.
* * * * * *
Dear Marci,
My mother was somehow enrolled in a Medicare private health plan last month.
She doesn't remember enrolling, but I suspect an agent signed her up at her
senior center. Is there any way I can switch her back to Original Medicare so
she can see her doctors again?
— Beatrice (Thomasville, NC)
* * * * * *
Click on the blue, underlined hyperlinks for related information available
through Medicare Interactive!
* * * * * *
Dear Beatrice,
Yes. We are still within Medicare's Open Enrollment Period, which runs from
January 1 through March 31 every year. Your new coverage starts the first of
the month after you make your selection. You cannot decide to add or drop
Medicare drug coverage (Part D) during this time.
However, if you suspect your mother was misled into enrolling in her Medicare
private health plan, she may be able to switch outside the annual enrollment
periods. But since you still have time this enrollment period, go ahead and
switch your mother back now.
Read the full article on Medicare Interactive to learn about annual enrollment
periods
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=beJMIWNwFfJJJ0K&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
or to find out how to disenroll because of a mistaken or fraudulent enrollment
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ehKSI5OILiIQKaJ&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH).
— Marci
* * * * * *
Looking for past Dear Marci Answers? Got other Medicare questions? Find your
answers in Medicare Interactive, the Medicare Rights Center's FREE virtual
counseling tool. Visit Medicare Interactive today!
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=huIYJePUKlLXIkI&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
MI's new Google™ Custom Search lets you find answers more easily.
Do you need individual counseling? Call the Medicare Rights Center consumer
hotline at 800-333-4114, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday
through Friday. A Medicare counselor will be happy to answer your question.
You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=anJKKTNsEeKKK0L&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
(SHIP) for personal counseling on Medicare benefits, rights and options. Call
Social Security
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=dqLQK2OEKhJRIaK&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
(800-772-1213) for questions about enrolling in Medicare or applying for Extra
Help!
Feel free to send comments
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=gtJWLbPQIkIYKkJ&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
about Dear Marci or suggestions about topics you would like Dear Marci to
cover.
* * * * * *
Health Tip of the Week
In 2002, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that
1,386,868 children under five were exposed to household poisonous substances.
To raise awareness about the dangers of household poisonings, the third week in
March has been designated National Poison Prevention Week
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=anKKITMsHeLNL3I&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH).
While young children are the majority of poisoning victims, everyone should
know how to prevent poisonings and what to do in case of a poisoning emergency.
You never know when a small child will visit your home.
Adults are not safe from poisonings either—especially older adults who cannot
read prescription labels or who fail to follow instructions. Taking the wrong
dosage or mixing medications can result in poisoning. This may happen when
older people confuse one medicine for another, especially if the light is not
on when they reach for a medicine at night. Adults should take precautions
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fiJUK8OMIkLPJ9J&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
to avoid these types of poisonings.
In the event of a poisoning emergency, call the poison control center
immediately at 800-222-1222 or 911. Be prepared to give relevant details,
including the label of the ingested chemical or medication to the poison
control expert on the phone.
If you are a caregiver, learn how to help your loved ones manage their
medications
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ilL0LhMYLnKWLjI&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
on Medicare Interactive.
* * * * * *
Survey Says . . .
According to a survey by USA Today
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=boJMIWNwFgJJJZK&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH),
the Kaiser Family Foundation
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=erKSI5OILjIQK9J&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
and the Harvard University School of Public Health
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=huIYJePUKmLXIjI&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH),
nearly one out of three Americans say that a prescription drug ad prompted
them to ask their doctors about the advertised drug. Of those who asked, 82
percent said their doctors then prescribed a medication—either the advertised
drug, a different drug, or both. The percentage of U.S. adults getting
prescriptions as a result of drug advertising has increased by 7 percent since
2005.
Spending on drug ads reached $4.8 billion in 2006, compared with $2.6 billion
in 2002. According to a 2006 Government Accountability Office
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=adJKKTNsEfKKKZL&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
report, drug advertising "contributed to overall increases in spending on both
the advertised drug itself and on other drugs that treat the same conditions."
The report cited another study that shows for every one dollar that drug
companies spent on advertising, sales increased by a median of $2.20.
* * * * * *
Spotlight on Resources
* Need more help with your Medicare private plan? Ask your state's SHIP
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=dgLQK2OEKiJRI9K&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
to help you!
* Want to find out more about your Medicare choices? Visit MyMedicare.gov
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=gtJWLbPQIlIYKjJ&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH).
* Look up contact information for your regional Medicare office
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=anKKITMsHfLNL2I&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH).
* * * * * *
MRC's Hotline for Professionals
Do you help people with Medicare? Where do you turn to for help? Call the
Professional Hotline, a national service offered by the Medicare Rights Center
to support people serving the Medicare population. Dial 877-794-3570 from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT for accurate, up-to-date information and ongoing technical
support.
* * * * * *
Newly Updated Medicare Drug Coverage 101
MRC's Medicare Drug Coverage 101 is an advocate's guide that tells you
everything you need to know about Part D. Get a FREE copy
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=dqIQI2OEJiJUJcL&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
of this great resource.
* * * * * *
Newly Updated Medicare Part D Appeals Help for Advocates
MRC's Medicare Part D Appeals: An advocate's manual to navigating the Medicare
private drug plan appeals process
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ilL0LhMYLoKWLiI&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
offers an easy-to-understand, comprehensive overview of the entire appeals
process, including real-life case examples. Get a FREE copy
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=boJMIWNwFhJJJYK&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
of this great resource.
* * * * * *
Stay Healthy! Learn About Medicare-Covered Preventive Care Services
Check out MRC's FREE educational web seminar "Preventive Care Benefits" to
learn about preventative benefits covered by Medicare. You can listen to a
recording
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=erKSI5OILkIQK8J&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
of this online seminar.
Interested in learning more about Preventive Services covered by Medicare? Call
the Medicare Rights Center at 888-795-4627 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask
to receive FREE monthly phone calls from a trained counselor about important
preventive benefits under Medicare.
* * * * * *
Spread the Word About Dear Marci!
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Subscribe
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=adJKKTNsEgKKKYL&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH)
to MRCs other e- newsletters.
Dear Marci is a weekly e-newsletter designed to keep youpeople with Medicare,
social workers, health care providers and other professionalsin the loop about
health care benefits, rights and options for older Americans and people with
disabilities. Dear Marci is a free service of the Medicare Rights Center
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=dgLQK2OEKjJRI8K&s=ngIXI3NxF8JQKYNGF&m=owIZIeO3KsIeH).
* * * * * *
The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of Medicare
information and assistance in the United States. Founded in 1989, MRC helps
older adults and people with disabilities get high-quality, affordable health
care.
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Contents are 2008 by Medicare Rights Center, 520 Eighth Avenue, North Wing, 3rd
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