AAACAP Benefit Counselors shift to Medicare Advantage Plan enrollment

The job is never done for benefit counselors with the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area (AAACAP), a CAPCOG division. “Helping people understand their benefits and potential cost doesn’t end when an open enrollment period closes,” said Yvette McVey, AAACAP lead benefits counselor. “Insurance, other benefits and their cost can greatly impact people’s quality of life, and we want people to be more comfortable knowing they’re making sound benefit decisions all year long.”

After aiding nearly 350 people during Medicare open enrollment, which ended December 7, benefit counselors immediately started assisting older adults in navigating the enrollment process and programs for Medicare Advantage Plans as well as providing consolations for first time Medicare enrollees, Medicare Saving Plan and extra help applicants and checking to ensure people’s Medicare changes have taken affect.

Medicare Advantage Plans provide health care coverages from private companies that follow rules set by Medicare while also giving additional benefits such prescription, vision, hearing and dental services, which could lower out-of-pocket cost to individuals. They have an enrollment deadline of March 31. Medicare Saving Plans may help pay hospital and medical insurance premiums as well as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs. To receive assistance from benefit counselors, residents should know their prescriptions, income and resource information, and their residing zip code.

Residents in the 10-county region can contact AAACAP benefit counselors at 888-622-9111, 512-916-6062, or bcinfo@capcog.org. A list of programs with which benefit counselors can assist is at https://www.capcog.org/what-we-do/care-guidance-services/benefits-counseling/.