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Benefit Counseling / Medicare Open Enrollment

Get to know your Benefits with AAACAP's Benefits Counselors

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Contact Benefits counselors for appointments

The Benefits Counseling program provides factual, unbiased information, assistance, counseling, and advocacy to older adults, and Medicare beneficiaries of any age, on their public benefits, entitlements, and legal rights.

All Benefits counselors are trained and certified to answer questions regarding the application process for programs such as Medicare, Social Security, and Supplemental Insurance over the phone, through office visits, phone visits, presentations, and enrollment events in the community.

Medicare

Open Enrollment

What to know about Open Enrollment

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period can be stressful for people, especially for those enrolling in Medicare for the first time. The AAACAP Benefits Counselors have compiled these things to remember to help prepare you for the open enrollment and elevate some of that stress. 

Medicare Open Enrollment occurs from October 15 to December 7 every year.
  • If they enroll in a plan during Medicare Open Enrollment, their coverage starts Jan. 1.
  • In most cases, Medicare Open Enrollment is the only time they can pick a new Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan.
  • If they have Medicare Advantage, they also can switch to Original Medicare. To get Medicare drug coverage, they must join a stand-alone Part D plan.
  • If they have Original Medicare, review next year’s Medicare & You Handbook to identify their Medicare costs and benefits for the upcoming year. If they are unsatisfied with their Original Medicare coverage, they can make change to their coverage during the open enrollment period. Coverage changes will take effect Jan. 1 of the next year.
  • If they have a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, they should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from their plan. They should review the notices for any changes in the plan’s costs, benefits and rules for the upcoming year. If they are dissatisfied with any changes, they can make changes to their coverage during open enrollment to be effective Jan. 1.
  • Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their Medicare coverage should review other Medicare options in their area to see if other options better suit their needs. Another plan in their area may offer better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. Research shows people with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year.
  • Call the Area Agency on Aging at 512-916-6178 or 888-622-9111.
  • Visit Medicare.gov and use the Plan Finder to search or review available plans.
  • Checkout the videos and information below.
  • The Health Insurance Marketplaces will hold open enrollment for uninsured or underinsured Americans. The Marketplaces are not meant for people with Medicare. People with Medicare should not use this open enrollment period to purchase or change their health care.
  • People with Medicare should continue to use the Medicare Open Enrollment Period to review and make changes to their health coverage.

Open Enrollment Appointments

Benefits Counselors accept in-person appointments during open enrollment, but prefer phone or virtual consultations.

In most cases a person’s needs can be met over the phone or through a virtual consultation. If you believe an in-person appointment is necessary, you must first scheduled it ahead of time by calling 512-916-6178 or 888-622-9111.

In-person consultations should last between 30 minutes to an hour. People who attend an appointment should come prepared with the documents requested by their counselor prior to the meeting.

Benefit Counselors will hold standing in-person appointments at the times listed at CAPCOG’s Offices.

Times
Days and times will be determined closer to the open enrollment period

Days
Days and times will be determined closer to the open enrollment period

Location
6800 Burleson Road
Building 310, Suite 165
Austin, Tx 78744

Community benefit counselor events  also will get scheduled throughout the 10-county region.

Check the calendar for such events.

Helpful Open Enrollment Information

There is a lot of information available on Medicare and Medicare Care Open Enrollment. AAACAP Benefit Counselors have compiled a number of helpful and well trusted material that can used to prepare older adults for applying to and changing their Medicare benefits.

Medicare Open Enrollment 101

Get the 101 version of open enrollment by watching this video with AAACAP benefits counselors put on for an AGE of Central Texas workshop.

The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website contains articles about the open enrollment process that can be beneficial to seeking to change benefits during the open enrollment period. 

AAACAP benefit counselors recommend watching its video series Medicare & You. The series discusses not only the open enrollment process but educates people about reviewing their coverage and how to explore their options.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services video series

Newly Medicare eligible seniors

Those turning 65 and who will be newly Medicare eligible should do their research early especially if they are still employed at 65.

download the manual from NCOA
Open Enrollment & Medicare Tools

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have two powerful web tools that can help people select and change their plains as well as find a preferred medical or drug provider.

Plan Finder tool allows someone to create an online profile and use their current prescription information to compare several Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans available by zip code at the same time.

Watch a Plan Finder help video or contact a benefits counselor.

Medicare Care Compare combines eight different search engines formerly operated by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services. It allows people to locate new providers that take their new Medicare coverage that was selected during the open enrollment period.

Watch a video for Medicare Care Compare help or contact a benefits counselor.

Medicare and Open Enrollment Fraud

During the Medicare Open Enrollment period, fraud and scams incidents targeting older adults tend to increase.  The U.S Federal Trade Commission recommends the following to avoid becoming a victim of crimes related to Medicare Open Enrollment.

  • Anyone who tries to sell you Medicare insurance while claiming to be an “official Medicare agent” is a scammer. There are no Medicare sales representatives.
  • Ignore anyone who says you must join a prescription drug plan to keep your Medicare coverage. The Medicare prescription drug plan (also known as Part D) is voluntary and has nothing to do with the rest of your Medicare coverage.
  • Never give information over the phone to someone who says they need it so you can keep your coverage. Hang up on anyone who asks for a quick payment, threatens you, or offers you free equipment or services in exchange for your information.

Remember AAACAP Benefits Counselors are available to help assist people through the open enrollment process and selecting their coverage. They will never contact anyone without being contacted first. They will never ask for payment or attempt to sell anything. They will never claim to be a Medicare agent, and they will state that you join a particular plan. They help older adults find choices and don’t select choices for the individual.

Report any suspected fraud attempts by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, call the Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).