November 2007 Vol. 26. No. 11

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Creativity in the Garden
Medicare’s annual enrollment period
Not quite a scam
Public safety
Alzheimer’s Month
Veterans Day

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Medicare
Medicare’s annual enrollment period
by Anne Conrad-Antoville

The annual enrollment period for Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans is Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. During this period you can: • Enroll in Medicare drug coverage for the first time, either through a Medicare drug plan or though a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage • Drop Medicare drug coverage by disenrolling from a Medicare drug plan or by disenrolling from a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage • Change your Medicare drug coverage by enrolling in a Medicare drug plan or by enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage If you enroll in a new plan you will be automatically disenrolled from the old plan. Note that if you disenroll from Medicare drug coverage and want to get the coverage back later you will have to pay premium penalties.

Drug Plan Tips It’s a good idea to make sure that your current drug plan will continue to cover your drugs and will continue to be accepted by your pharmacy in 2008. Many plans have increased premiums for 2008. Medicare has increased the 2008 annual deductible to $275, the initial coverage limit to $2,510 and the out-of-pocket threshold to $4,050. If you have Medi-Cal or the Extra Help for Medicare drug plans, the following plans will NO LONGER have premium costs fully covered: AARP Saver Plan, CIGNA Healthcare Value Plan, Humana Standard Plan, Wellcare Signature Plan. You can either stay with the plan and pay an additional premium cost or change to one of the nine plans that accepts Medi-Cal Extra Help as full premium cost in 2008.

Medicare Advantage Tips You can change your Medicare coverage to Medicare Advantage during the annual enrollment period and you also have the right to make this change from Jan. 1 through March 31. Medicare Advantage plans are private Medicare plans. They replace original Medicare. Medicare Advantage cannot supplement original Medicare. If you get a Medicare Advantage Private Fee for Service plan, YOU are responsible to make sure your doctor and other medical providers will accept the plan — there is no published directory of providers. You may lose benefits if you get a Medicare Advantage plan and you have a retiree plan or have Medi-Cal. HICAP has a free checklist you can use if you are considering purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan. If you need help, you can call HICAP at 444-3000 in Humboldt and 464-7876 in Del Norte. Anne Conrad-Antoville is HICAP Manager for Humboldt/Del Norte counties.