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Original Medicare Enrollment

Original Medicare Enrollment in parts A and B is automatic for those drawing Social Security.   Those people who are not that are not will need to enroll.

If you’re already collecting Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security retirement benefits when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled Medicare Part A .  If you are under 65 and you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B after 24 months of disability benefits.

You will need to sign up for Medicare part B, if  you are not receiving retirement benefits before age 65 or  if you qualify for Medicare through disability. Please note, you can sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This is the seven-month enrollment period that begins three months before you turn 65.  This enrollment period includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months later.

Click here to visit the Medicare.gov site to learn details.

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST MEDICARE QUOTE INFORMATION.

Still have questions?  We are Medicare specialists.  Please call if you have questions or need help navigating the Medicare enrollment process.  You can either call the office at 203-796-5403 or email us at admin@croweandassociates.com.

We are a full-service brokerage and offer clients not only guidance with Medicare, but all health plan needs.  We offer dental insurance, both long and short term care policies.  Crowe and Asscoiates can help with estate planning by offering several types of life insurance as well as investment opportunities.

Medicare Part D Premiums

Medicare Part D premiums range from between $10 and $100 per month.  The amount depends on what plans  are available in your area as well as  the particular plan you choose. The maximum deductible in 2016 is $360. This is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before Medicare will contribute to your prescription costs.

Medicare Part B Premium Costs

When turning 65, individuals need to understand the Medicare Part B Premium costs.

Individual Medicare recipients pay a premium each month for Part B. If you receive either Social Security, Railroad Retirement Board, or Office of Personnel Management benefits, your Part B premium is automatically deducted from your benefit payment.  If you do not get these benefit payments, you will receive a bill and can submit your payment from there.

Most people will pay the standard premium amount. However, if your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain amount, you may have to pay an adjustment.  In fact, this amount is determined by what is on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago.  This fee is called an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). IRMAA is an extra charge that Medicare adds to your premium.

Click here for the Medicare.gov income requirements and information.

Click here to request a no obligation Medicare quote.

If you have questions regarding Medicare Part B costs or are ready to investigate plan options, please either call the office at 203-796-5403 or email us at admin@croweandassociates.com.  We are Medicare specialists and will be happy to help you navigate the both the options and process.

Medicare Part B Penalty

Crowe and Associates wants to make sure that you are aware that there is  a Medicare Part B Penalty.  In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you will have to pay a late enrollment Medicare Part B penalty. Medicare will be charge you this penalty for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it.

Click here to access Medicare.gov for more information regarding the Part B penalty.

How do you calculate your premium penalty? Let’s say you turned 65 in 2009, and you delayed signing up for Part B until 2016.  If you did not have employer insurance that allows you to delay enrollment. Your monthly premium would be 70 percent higher for as long as you have Medicare (7 years x 10 percent). Since the Medicare Part B premium in 2016 is $121.80, your monthly premium with the penalty would be $207.06 ($121.80 x 0.7 + $121.80).

Note:  Although Medicare calculates the penalty you pay by using the standard Part B Premium. Your Part B premium amount is based on your income.  Medicare then adds the penalty amount to your actual premium amount.

To learn more about avoiding the Medicare Part B penalty, or how to navigate the Medicare enrollment process, call the office at 203-796-5403 or email us at admin@croweandassociates.com.  We are leading Medicare specialists and are here to help.  There is never a fee for our advice.

Click here for a free Medicare quote.

Who Should Enroll in Medicare Part B?

Deciding when and if you should enroll in Medicare Part B can be a daunting task.  Getting or maintaining the best coverage depends on your understanding of Medicare enrollment requirements as well as your current situation.

If you or your spouse are still working and receiving employer or union coverage, maintaining that coverage may be the best option.  You have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a penalty.  If you or your spouse (or family member if you’re disabled) are still working and you have insurance through that employer or union, contact your employer or union benefits administrator to find out how your insurance works with Medicare.

Your military or veteran status also plays a role in deciding the right coverage for you.

Click here to visit the Medicare.gov site to learn details.

Click here for a short video to help you understand some of the deciding factors regarding when to enroll.

If you are ready to enroll in Medicare Part B, need more information or have questions, please call the office at 203-796-5403 or email admin@croweandassociates.com for an appointment.  We are Medicare specialists and will be happy to help you navigate the process.

Click here for a free personalized Medicare quote.

New Humana Medicare Plans 2016

New Humana Medicare Plans 2016 –  There are some new Humana Medicare plans that clients can purchase in 2016. The new plans have many great options for members to choose from.  Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans both with and without drug plans in multiple states.  Please note that in some states such as NY, they only offer a stand alone PDP plan while in others they offer both the PDP and Medicare Advantage plans.  They have multiple MAPD plan types with HMO and PPO plans in various states.  Click the link below to review Humana Medicare plans 2016 in all states. The link will also provide PDP Rx summaries.  Please call our office with any additional questions about plan designs, or benefits.

Click for Humana benefit summaries for all states 2016

Humana Medicare is also looking to fill a market void in the Long Island NY region.

This new HMO plan offers to it’s members:

• $37 monthly premium.
• $5 PCP co-pays.
• $30 specialist co-pays.
• $6,7000 Maximum out of pocket (MOOP) cost.
• This plan also includes a Silver Sneakers membership.
• It also provides preventive dental coverage.
• There is also a vision allowance of $200 toward the purchase of new glasses.
• They provide members hearing aid coverage.
• In addition this plan offers optional supplemental benefits (OSB), if you so choose.
• Travel options are built in to allow for in-network benefits in select Florida counties.

The network has been expanded to include the following:

• North Shore Lone Island Jewish Hospitals as in-network participants.
• Both Pro-Health providers as well as surgical centers are in-network participants.
• In addition, the network includes Advanced Urology.

True Freedom Home Care Service Plans

True Freedom home care service plans are designed for consumers who are not currently in need of care but could be classified as in “declining health” which would prevent them from being able to secure a traditional plan.

While loved ones will have the best intentions to be there for a family member who needs assistance, many are not prepared and quickly become overwhelmed by the amount of work involved in giving care.  Traditional home health care insurance is an option for such services.  However, it is limited to only the extremely healthy, creating challenges for many that do not qualify.  True Freedom plans are a viable alternative to traditional home health care insurance.  These plans support seniors with their regular activities while providing independence and privacy with at home care

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Medicare Excess Charges Connecticut

Medicare Excess Charges Connecticut:    Medicare excess charges or sometimes called excess billing is applied by doctors that do not accept Medicare assignment.  A doctor who chooses not to accept assignment is able to bill a patient 15% over the allowable Medicare charges.  However, Those providers are not able to bill over Medicare allowable limit on all charges.  Some items that providers cannot use the excess charge on include Durable Medical Equipment. This is true even if they are not accepting assignment.   Non par is another way of saying that the doctor does not have to accept the Medicare contracted price for services.   You should not confuse Non par with a Medicare opt out.  An opt out is when a doctor does not participate with Medicare.   Medicare will not provide any coverage for services rendered by an opted out physician or facility.

Be very careful when you ask a provider if they “take” your insurance!

You might think, if the provider says that they “take”  your insurance they participate with your insurance carrier.  This is not always the case. This only confirms that they will accept payment from your insurance company and they may submit your claim for you.  It does always not mean that they  have a contract with your carrier.

If you want to be sure, you should always ask healthcare providers if they are contracted as a participating provider with your insurance carrier.  Unfortunately, there are some providers out there who will mislead you with their wording in order to get your business.  This is more common than you would think. For this reason you must ask the right questions to avoid costly situations.  Your carrier cannot protect you from any carrier they do not have a contract with.

Fortunately, Connecticut does not allow excess charges or billing from doctors that are non par.  Some Medicare supplement plans cover excess charges.    That benefit is not necessary in CT and should not factor into deciding which plan you should choose.

Click here to access the government site on Medicare.

If you have questions or need additional information regarding your current or future Medicare needs, call the office at 203-796-5403 or email us at admin@croweandassociates.com.  Allow us to use or many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of all Connecticut Medicare plans and providers to help you navigate the Medicare process.

Access Health Special Enrollment Period – April 1 – 30, 2015

Access Health CT has announced a special enrollment period from April 1 through April 30, 2015.  This special enrollment period is intended to allow both individuals and families the opportunity to enroll in coverage in 2015.   This is a chance for people who did not have health coverage in 2104 and are now subject to a federal tax penalty to get the coverage they need.

Although, individuals who do not qualify for an exemption from Access Health and went without health care coverage in 2014 will have to pay a penalty.  The penalty is $95 per adult or 1 percent of their income, whichever is greater.  This amount is added in when they file their taxes this year. Additinally, the tax penalty will increase to $325 per adult or 2% of income for the 2015 calendar year.

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Medicare Savings Program Connecticut

Medicare Savings Program Connecticut (MSP) is a drug help program available to Connecticut residents on Medicare.   The program provides help for drug copays, deductibles and premium to those who qualify based on income.

MSP is available to individuals and couples making under stated income guidelines which have been provided here:

• QMB – $2,088.90 for a single person and $2,816.85 for a couple
• SLMB – $2,286.90 for a single person and $3,083.85 for a couple
• ALMB – $2,435.40  for a single person and $3,284.10 for a couple

MSP applications and brochures

Do you have questions or need more help?  Are you looking for more information? If you are, we can help with whatever you may need with MSP, Medicare plan choices or any other questions.  Call us at 203-796-5403 or email Edward@croweandassociates.com