2010 News

Bucks County Area Agency on Aging
30 E. Oakland Ave.
Doylestown, PA 18901

NEWS RELEASECounty Seal  
Contact:  Donna Damiani
APPRISE Coordinator
215-348-0510, x1207

 

Important Changes Ahead for Medicare Annual Enrollment:  APPRISE Medicare Counselors are Ready to Help Beneficiaries

People with Medicare will see some significant changes to Medicare enrollment rules this fall.  If they miss the opportunity to make adjustments to their plans now, they will have to wait another year.

The following will change:

  • Medicare’s Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP) will take place November 15-December 31, 2010.  Both Part D and Medicare Advantage plan members must make plan changes at this time. 
  • Medicare’s Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP), a new period for this year, will take place from January 1-February 15, 2011.  People with Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will only be able to return to Original Medicare and join a stand-alone prescription drug (Part D) plan.  In the past it was possible to switch Medicare Advantage plans from January 1-March 31.

During 2011, the following will change:

  • The Annual Coordinated Election Period for Medicare will be changed to October 15-December 7, 2011, for plans effective January 1, 2012.

Also, due to recent changes in Medicare requirements and payments to private Medicare Advantage plans, both now and in the future, insurers may opt to change plan benefits, provider networks, and cost.

Plans might respond to the upcoming shifts in Medicare by:

  • Raising beneficiaries’ premiums and/or cost-sharing
  • Reducing their network of providers
  • Reducing extra benefits
  • Making quality improvements to obtain bonuses
  • Withdrawing from the marketplace entirely

Others may not make dramatic changes.  Beneficiaries should check their coverage carefully each year to ensure they are enrolled in a plan that will continue to meet their health needs and budget.

APPRISE, a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, is sponsored locally by the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.  APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program designed to objectively help older Pennsylvanians with Medicare.  APPRISE counselors are available to assist people with assessing their Medicare coverage options.  Medicare beneficiaries may contact the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging’s APPRISE program, if a counseling appointment is needed, at 215-348-0510.

APPRISE counselors can help Medicare beneficiaries:

  • Review current coverage
  • Check qualification for low-income programs
  • Compare plans with all available options
  • Search for specific plans online that meet specific prescription and medical needs
  • Give easy-to-understand answers to questions about Medicare
  • Help enroll in a plan online

Beneficiaries may also use online tools available at www.medicare.gov (the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder or Medicare Options Compare for health coverage) to review options for 2011.  They can compare cost and coverage information on plans serving their area by entering their Medicare number, age, health status, local pharmacy, and their current prescriptions.

People with Medicare or their representatives will have the chance to get personalized help from APPRISE Medicare counselors throughout Bucks County at the following free, local information and enrollment events:

November 15, 2010
11:00 am – 2:30 pm
Bristol Township Senior Center
2501 Bath Rd.
Bristol, PA 19007
215-786-6322

November 18, 2010
10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Central Bucks Senior Center
700 Shady Retreat Rd.
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-0565

November 30, 2010
10:00 am – Noon
Bensalem Senior Citizens Center
1850 Byberry Rd.
Bensalem, PA 19020
215-638-7720

December 1, 2010 
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Upper Bucks Senior Citizens Center
c/o Milford Square Fire Co.
2183 Milford Square Pk.
Milford, PA 18951
215-536-3066


*Registration is required.  Please call 215-348-0510 to register.*