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Welcome To Medicare!: Things To Think About When You Compare Medicare Drug Coverage

Welcome to Medicare! This document provides tips for making the most of your Medicare coverage. It recommends deciding how to get Medicare coverage if you haven't already, giving permission for others to access your information, and creating an online Medicare account. It also suggests using Medicare's resources to understand covered items/services, find help paying costs, and review claims. The document outlines times when Medicare coverage can be changed and notes help is always available through Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

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Alsayed General Hospital
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74 views4 pages

Welcome To Medicare!: Things To Think About When You Compare Medicare Drug Coverage

Welcome to Medicare! This document provides tips for making the most of your Medicare coverage. It recommends deciding how to get Medicare coverage if you haven't already, giving permission for others to access your information, and creating an online Medicare account. It also suggests using Medicare's resources to understand covered items/services, find help paying costs, and review claims. The document outlines times when Medicare coverage can be changed and notes help is always available through Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Uploaded by

Alsayed General Hospital
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Welcome to

Medicare!
Revised May 2020

Things to think about when you compare


Medicare drug coverage
Use these tips to get started.

Now that you have Medicare, take these steps to make the
most of your coverage.

Do these things NOW

Decide how to get your Medicare coverage, if you


haven’t already.
You have 2 main options in how you get your Medicare coverage—
Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. If you choose Original
Medicare, you can add a separate Medicare drug plan and/or Medicare
Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy. Most Medicare Advantage
Plans include drug coverage and offer extra benefits that Original
Medicare doesn’t cover—like vision, hearing, dental, and more.
Visit go.Medicare.gov/medicare-coverage-options to learn about your
options, and to search for plans in your area.

Give Medicare permission to talk to someone you trust.


You may want a family member, friend, or caretaker to talk to
Medicare on your behalf, if you’re ever unable to talk to us yourself.
We can’t give your personal health information to anyone unless you
give this permission in writing first. Visit Medicare.gov/forms-help-
resources/medicare-forms, and select “Authorization to Disclose
Personal Health Information form.”

Paid for by the Department of Health & Human Services.


Use these tips to get started with Medicare.

Create an online Medicare account.


Visit Medicare.gov to create your secure Medicare account. Create an
online account, so you can log in to manage your Medicare information
anytime. Create a list of your prescriptions, view your Original Medicare
claims status, pay your Medicare premiums, and more. You can also
print an official copy of your Medicare card if you need it.

Learn how Medicare works with other health insurance.


If you have Medicare and other health or drug coverage—like an
employer or union plan—it’s important to understand which one pays
first. Tell your doctors about your new Medicare coverage and any other
health plans you have. You also need to let Medicare know about your
other insurance by calling Medicare’s Benefits Coordination & Recovery
Center at 1-855-798-2627. TTY users can call 1-855-797-2627.

FREE! Get a “Welcome to Medicare” visit.


Schedule a free “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit with your
doctor during your first year with Medicare. It includes a review
of your medical and social history related to your health, and
counseling about preventive services that may be right for you.
Visit Medicare.gov/coverage/welcome-to-medicare-preventive-visit
for details.

MEDICARE.GOV
Do these things within your FIRST YEAR

Find out what Medicare covers.


Visit Medicare.gov/coverage or download Medicare’s free “What’s
covered” mobile app to find out which items and services Medicare
covers. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, check their materials,
online services, or app, if they have one.

Get help paying your Medicare health & drug costs.


If you have limited income, you may qualify for financial help.
Visit Medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/get-help-paying-costs for
details.

Review your claims.


Get into the habit of making sure your claims are filed in a timely
manner, and you’re not billed for services you didn’t get.
• If you have Original Medicare, you’ll automatically get claim
statements called “Medicare Summary Notices” (MSNs) by mail every
3 months. If you want to get an electronic version of your statement
(called eMSNs) every month instead of a print copy, log into your
online Medicare account to sign up. See the “Medicare & You”
handbook at Medicare.gov/publications for details.
• If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare drug plan, check
the statements you get from your plan.

1-800-MEDICARE
Use these tips to get started with Medicare.

Make sure your Medicare plan is a good fit for you.


If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment
Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without
drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a separate
drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare.

You can also make changes to your coverage during these times:
• January 1 – March 31:
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to another Medicare
Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare. See the “Medicare & You”
handbook at Medicare.gov/publications for details.
• October 15 – December 7:
Annual Open Enrollment Period
Each fall, you can change your Medicare health or drug coverage for the
following year. Your new coverage will begin on January 1. Visit
Medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans for details.

You may also be able to change your coverage if certain life events happen
(like if you move or lose other insurance). Visit Medicare.gov for details.

Help is always available


• Medicare.gov
Answers and information are always at your fingertips at Medicare.gov.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Get help with your Medicare questions 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
TTY: 1-877-486-2048.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
You can also get free, personalized health insurance counseling from your
SHIP. See the “Medicare & You” handbook at Medicare.gov/publications
for details. If you have a trusted insurance agent or broker, they might also
be available to help you understand Medicare and compare your coverage
options.
CMS Product No. 12116
January 2021

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