Monday, October 14, 2019

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins

Insurance Commish Miguel Chaney issued the following statement. 


The open enrollment period for Medicare runs from October 15 through December 7, 2019 at which time you may change your Medicare health or prescription coverage for 2020.


“As Insurance Commissioner I take my responsibilities of protecting the consumers of this state very seriously. Never is that more true than when it comes to the ever-growing, complex issues facing seniors in Mississippi relating to their health coverage,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. “Rising health care costs put a strain on many retirement budgets and seniors need to remain well informed to make the most economical decisions.”

While the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) does not regulate Advantage Plans, the MID is available to answer questions if you have concerns or are confused by the open enrollment process. Consumers with questions should call 1-800-562-2957.

Medicare is a federal insurance program comprised of four parts that is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare is for people age 65 or older or for people who are under 65 with certain disabilities or End Stage Renal Disease.

There are several things you should consider during each open enrollment period:

·         Read all notices you get from Medicare about upcoming changes, many of which can be found in the annual Medicare Supplement Shoppers Guide issued by MID.
o   Yearly Medicare revisions can include such changes as out of pocket limits and prescription costs.
·         Know that there are programs out there to assist you in paying for Medicare. You can find out about these programs at medicare.gov or the Division of Aging and Adult Services of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

Individuals who contact you about any type of private Medicare coverage:
·         Must be licensed by the state. Check with the Mississippi Insurance Department to make sure the salesperson is a licensed agent.
·         May not make unsolicited contact, such as door-to-door sales, cold calls or approaching you in a parking lot.
·         Must make an appointment before coming to your home.
·         Must arrange in advance the type of products that will be discussed during a scheduled sales appointment. At the appointment, the salesperson may not try to sell you other types of insurance coverage other than the type(s) agreed upon in advance.
·         May not try to sell you non-health care related products (like a life insurance policy or an annuity) during a sales or marketing presentation of a Medicare prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan.
·         May not attempt to sell you a plan in certain health care settings, such as a doctor’s office or a pharmacy.
·         May not attempt to sell you a plan at an educational event.
·         May not offer you free meals at promotional or sales events.
·         Do not give out personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers to anyone you have not verified as a licensed agent. People are not allowed to request such personal information in their marketing activities and cannot ask for payment over the Internet. They must send you a bill. Once you decide to purchase a plan and have verified that the agent is licensed, you may give the agent personal information to assist in enrollment and billing.


19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey old people, why don’t you pay for your own damn medical coverage. Government is subsidizing way too much of yalls medical care and it’s going to bankrupt us all. Throw social insecurity in their too. If you properly plan for retirement as I am you will be able to live government free in your later years.

Anonymous said...

There ought to be a federal law against those commercials (and the products they hawk) that attempt to trick old folks into thinking if 'you call this number you can get the additional Medicare benefits to which you are entitled up to and including dental, vision and hearing'. Of course the fine print, which no humanoid can read, tells us they are not affiliated with any government program and the coverage will cost you out the ass.

Unless you have had significant problems with your current secondary policy, stick with what you have and tune out all the 'open enrollment hype and bullshit'....including that from Chaney.

Anonymous said...

@2:54

I don't know what rock you've been living under but you need to educate yourself on how Social Security and Medicare are funded. I and my employers through the years PAID for SS and Medicare. Also the years that I was self employed I paid double since I had to contribute what an employer would have. Yes, I planned for my retirement but SS and Medicare payments are MY MONEY that I paid into the system. Damn right I gonig to get back as much of what I put in as I can. SS and Medicare ARE NOT entitlement programs!

Anonymous said...

"Hey old people, why don’t you pay for your own damn medical coverage."

Bet you didn't know it was paid for in advance, did you dullard?

Anonymous said...

Hey 2:54, I turned 65 this year and enrolled in Medicare. By most standards I am classified as wealthy and can live without assistance – at least until my mental ability rots away. However, the Federal government punishes my independence with permanent penalties if I postpone Medicare. While I have paid in the maximum amount of self-employment Medicare and SS taxes -- now 15.3% -- right off the top of my own revenue (that’s my gross pay, not earnings) for forty years, I also capped out on the maximum monthly social security benefit that I will ever receive (inflation adjusted) eleven years ago, and will continue to pay the 15.3% self-employment tax for the next five years until I begin taking social security at age of 70. That’s sixteen extra years of double FICA tax on which I get nothing.

I find the following scenario likely: Medicare payouts by the federal government for my future health needs will greatly exceed the amount that I have paid in -- the government is indeed paying a large subsidy. However, I am not going to let the government punish me with permanent penalties for not signing up for Medicare now – particularly since I have to pay both the premium and the self--employment tax. On the other hand, if I had been able to invest that 15.3% over the past eleven years and the next five, I would have amassed a small fortune on that alone.

The reality, of course, is that all of the tax money that I have paid has already been spent elsewhere. I conclude, therefore, that the government rips off me, you, our children, and grandchildren. However, the solution does not lie in your statement,” [W]hy don’t you pay for your own damn medical coverage.” And, don't group me in with those who say, “By God I’m entitled to it because I paid for it.”

Anonymous said...

Stick with old Medicare ... Medicare Advantage is a scam.

Anonymous said...

2:54 PM is a fucking troll, but KF needs the clicks.

Anonymous said...

8:21, Be careful who you call a dullard. The money you, and your employer for you if you worked for someone, sent in was spent by the government in the year received, but not on you. The only way you get benefits is if someone else is sufficiently taxed during your benefit period, or if the government is able to borrow money or create it through its inflationary credit system. If that process ends or declines as predicted in the next quarter century – via insolvency, inflation, or the voting power of an upcoming generation – then you will discover who the dullard is. You did not make a single payment in “advance”. You only voted for politicians who promised you benefits using dishonest language.

Anonymous said...

This all sounds like a massive Ponzi scheme.

Macy Hanson said...

10:49 seems to be winning this debate to me.

Anonymous said...

Hey 2:54, Since you're "planning" to do without it... how 'bout we rig something where you could just apply your deductions to my SS account?

Anonymous said...

Give me a way to opt out of this Ponzi scheme and gladly I will. Fact is other than not working and living on the real "entitlement programs" to which I would have contributed nothing, I have NO CHOICE. Yes, I will continue to bleed the system if that is the way some of you see it. By the way, will someone please remind me which political party started Social Security? While you at it let me know which party started most (if not all) of the entitlement programs we have today that are bleeding dry us working people.

S 6:13PM

Anonymous said...

10:49 can't possibly win the debate by posting blatant inaccuracies.

And suddenly we rise up, fully awake, and realize this is a giant ponzi scheme. Every form of entitlement is a ponzi scheme, by definition. All ponzis are not negative or out to steal your money. Most of what society offers us are based on ponzi theory. Even our traffic signals and roads, which will wear out before we can afford more...so we have to float loans to buy them. In gambling circles we call it 'betting on the come'. Pay attention to the smallest details of life.

Professor X said...

Why don’t we just terminate all old people at age 70. Think of all the money the government would save. Also those younger would not have to pay any SS taxes and enjoy a more affluent lifestyle. Only those like 2:54. Would be permitted to continue life as they have planned their life perfectly and been immune to any life altering illness, financial calamities, market crashes , etc that can disrupt any financial plans.

Anonymous said...

Eat your heart out you ill-prepared for retirement. I have Medicare and Tricare and plan to live at least to 100. And my state retirement gives me a great cost-of-living increase every year. However, my Tricare pharmacy is increasing from $6.00 to $10.00 for a 90-day supply of meds. But since I don't pay State income tax on my State, Social security or Military retirement I can afford the increase. Ain't life wonderful!!!

Anonymous said...

3:44 brings up an interesting point. What's the difference between Tri-Care For Life and a thirteenth check under PERS? One appears to be breaking the state system and the other is not even trackable. And when a state retiree dies, if he elected properly, his spouse continues to receive his check for life. Same with the spouse of a vet on Tri Care who dies. Tri Care is on the federal dime, right? Therefore it's not even real money (wink).

Anonymous said...

2:54 isn’t old or smart enough to understand the saying about best laid plans

Anonymous said...

3:44 those who can’t do work for the government

Anonymous said...

The 13th check is a bad decision. Why wait a full year to get your cost of living increase? Just have it added to your retirement each month.


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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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