It Is Not Too Late
This Wednesday, December 7: Medicare Enrollment Deadline

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

This year, the Medicare Open Enrollment period will remain open THROUGH THIS WEDNESDAY December 7, 2022, with coverage changes taking effect on January 1, 2023. What does this mean?

It means if you qualify for Medicare, NOW IS THE TIME to review your coverage options and make a choice that best meets your health care needs. If you have been unhappy with your plan – including if you signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan last year to save money on premiums, only to find that these plans offered far less generous coverage – you can use open enrollment to change plans. To get help understanding what plan may be right for you, as well as the differences between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, call the Vermont Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.

For more than half a century, since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law in 1965, Medicare, along with Medicaid, has provided essential health care coverage for millions of Americans. And in the fight to expand and strengthen Medicare, there have been some important steps forward recently, including:

1. Just last month, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that Medicare enrollees will see lower average premiums for Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2023.
   
   
2. In addition, under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare enrollees will see lower costs for insulin and vaccines beginning in 2023.
   
   
3. People with Medicare drug coverage will also pay nothing out-of-pocket for adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Let’s be clear. You know and I know: We live in a country with a broken and dysfunctional health care system. As we speak, there are millions of people who need to see a doctor but cannot afford to do so. That is outrageous and completely unacceptable to me. I am honored to fight every day to make health care a human right for ALL, not just the privileged few. But this fight can be a long road and, in the meantime, I want to make sure you know about the Medicare coverage options available to you and our communities today.

To get started, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Again, Vermonters can also get free help by contacting their local Area Agency on Aging or by calling the Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call my office at 800-339-9834.

Sincerely,

Learn More About Your Medicare Options

Medicare Open Enrollment will remain open through this Wednesday, December 7, 2022, with coverage changes taking effect January 1, 2023. Medicare’s Open Enrollment period gives people the opportunity to make changes to their health plan or prescription drug plan, pick a Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare (also referred to as Medicare Part A and Part B). Even if your health needs have not changed, it is important to review your coverage options as Medicare plans can change their offerings and costs every year.

• Age Eligibility: Even though Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older, eligibility to sign up for Medicare begins three months before you turn 65. You also may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS.
  
  
• Limited Income Enrollees: Medicare enrollees with limited income and resources may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program run by their state Medicaid program. The Medicare Savings Programs help pay Medicare premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and copayments if people meet the conditions of eligibility. People can contact their state Medicaid program or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask about Medicare Savings Programs.

Comparing Plans and Looking at Savings Options

• Go to Medicare.gov to learn the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and do side-by-side comparisons of costs and coverage for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. Call 1-800-MEDICARE. Help is available 24 hours a day.
  
  
• Access personalized health insurance counseling at no cost, available from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Call the Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119 to get started. Many SHIPs also offer virtual counseling.
  
  
• Check eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs. If you have limited income and resources, you could qualify for Medicare Saving Programs run by your state Medicaid program. These programs could help save you money on health and prescription drug costs and/or could reduce your Part B premium from $165 to $0. For more information, call the Vermont Medicaid program at 1-855-899-9600 or call the Senior Helpline: 1-800-642-5119 and ask about Medicare Savings Programs.