Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight - PA MEDI

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Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) offers free Medicare counseling to older Pennsylvanians. PA MEDI Counselors are specially trained to answer your questions and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, and Medicaid. 

PA MEDI Counselors do not sell Medicare products but rather offer current, unbiased Medicare education to help you make the most informed choice about the Medicare options available to you.

Our PA MEDI Counselors can help you:

  • Understand Medicare eligibility and enrollmentapprise at galleria 002.1
  • Understand your Medicare benefits by explaining what services are covered under Medicare Parts A and B and your Medicare Summary Notice
  • Understand your Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) benefit
  • Make informed choices about Medicare coverage options, Medigap policies and Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Understand financial assistance programs that may be available to help pay for your Medicare premiums, deductible and co-pays, as well as your prescription drug needs (Extra Help and Medicare Savings Plan)
  • Understand and assist with the Medicare appeal process
  • By making presentations on Medicare to your group or organization

For more information visit PA MEDI Overview and Medicare 101 Presentation.

No Tagline JPG SHIP RGB 1Most apointments are being conducted over the phone or virtually. 
In-person appointments are available on a limited basis. 

Call the York County Area Agency on Aging at 717-771-9008 or 1-800-632-9073.

YCAAA PA MEDI Help Desk telephone 717-771-9008.

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) (https://www.phlp.org) , a partner of the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI), formerly the APPRISE program, is a nationally recognized expert and consultation access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Follow these links to learn more about the low income subsidy (LIS) (LIS Fact Sheet) and Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) (MSP Website Guide) that help low income Medicare beneficiaries save money on their prescription costs, Medicare deductables, and coinsurance.

 

UPCOMING PRE-RETIREMENT SEMINARS ANNOUNCED

Are you near retirement or recently retired, and confused about choosing Medicare plans?  We can help!  Attend one of these free virtual seminars from the comforts of your home!  Choose the session that fits your schedule.  You will get the facts and learn to better navigate the Medicare system. 

THURSDAYS:  June 23
                         July 28
                         August 25             
                          

HOW:               ZOOM

TIME:               6 – 8:30 pm  

This free event will be presented by the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight, PA MEDI.

Seminar topics include:  

  • Review of benefits provided under Medicare

  • Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plan coverage options  
  • Medicare prescription drug coverage and tools to navigate the “Drug Plan Finder”  
  • Medicare Savings Programs  
  • Medicare Preventive Services  
  • Supplemental Insurance/Medigap Plans  
  • MyMedicare.gov and other technological tools 

Pre-registration and a valid email address are required.  Please call (717) 771-9008 or 1-800-632-9073 or email aging@old.yorkcountypa.gov for registration and further information. 

A Second Chance to Switch Medicare Advantage Plans

A new opportunity to switch Medicare Advantage/Part C plans is happening right now. The annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31 and offers anyone enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan an opportunity to:

  • Switch from one Part C plan to another, or
  • Switch from a Part C plan to Original Medicare and add Part D prescription drug coverage.

Think of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period acts as an exchange period. Instead of having to keep a Part C plan you chose during the Annual Election Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) for a full year, you can switch immediately after your new plan becomes effective on Jan. 1.  Your new plan then goes into effect one month later. You are only allowed to switch one time during the annual MA OEP.

Many circumstances may warrant the use of the MA OEP. You may realize the doctor you want to see is not in-network for the plan you chose, or your out-of-pocket costs are higher than expected. Maybe you want freedoms not offered by Medicare Advantage plans like visiting any Medicare-approved doctor regardless of network coverage. Whatever the reason, you now have an opportunity to do so without facing any penalties. If you decide to switch to Original Medicare and enroll in a Medigap plan, check with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Medigap enrollment information. 

Two Opportunities

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period consists of two separate periods in which you can exchange plans. The previously discussed annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31. There’s also an individual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period that starts and ends depending on when you first enroll in Medicare. The difference between the two periods is:

  • The annual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, is for anyone already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan at the start of the year (Jan. 1) and would like to change coverage.
  • The individual Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is only for new Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in a Medicare Part C plan during the first three months they have Medicare. These individuals have an opportunity to enroll in another Part C plan or return to Original Medicare and a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.

Both periods offer the same enrollment options, either switch from one Part C plan to another, or switch from a Part C plan to Original Medicare and add Part D prescription drug coverage. The only difference is when you’re allowed to do so.

If you have any questions or need assistance searching for a new Medicare Advantage plan, please call PA MEDI at 717-771-9008 or email aging@old.yorkcountypa.gov.

Source: NCOA

 

   Medicare Toolkit

Download this free, informative Toolkit for Medicare Beneficiaries. Inside this toolkit you will find a variety of information regarding Medicare. This toolkit contains a brief history of Medicare, information about programs that help with Medicare costs, a Preventive Benefit checklist for you and your doctor, some fun puzzles to complete, and a listing of the local Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) office phone numbers in each county.

Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI), formerly APPRISE, is Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP). PA MEDI helps Medicare beneficiaries of any age as well as people who will soon be eligible for Medicare. PA MEDI staff depend on a network of knowledgeable and trained volunteers to do this important work. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator by calling 717-771-9610.

If you have any questions about the information included in this toolkit, or if you are interested in learning more about the programs that help with Medicare costs or applying for them, please call our PA MEDI Helpdesk at 717-771-9008.

Click here to download Medicare Toolkit in English, and in Spanish.

 A Message from the Social Security Administration

During the current coronavirus pandemic, the Social Security Administration (SSA) continues to provide help to you and others in your community.

While the offices are not providing service to walk-in visitors due to COVID-19, SSA remains committed to providing ongoing benefits and vital services.  SSA remains ready and able to help you by phone with most Social Security matters. You can speak with a representative by calling the local York Social Security office at 1-888-329-5732 or their National Number at 1-800-772-1213.  SSA also provides local office phone numbers conveniently online with their Social Security Office Locator.

SSA has many secure and convenient online services to:

  • Apply for Retirement, Disability, and Medicare benefits,
  • Check the status of an application or appeal,
  • Request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas),
  • Print a benefit verification letter, and
  • Much more.

Most business with SSA can be done online, but many people still rely on phone or in-person help.  That’s why SSA wants you to know you can still count on them by phone. And, if you have a critical situation they cannot help you with by phone or online, they may be able to schedule an appointment for you.

If you need help from SSA, please don’t wait until they can see you in person.  Reach out now and get the help you need.

Lastly, SSA also understands that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic.  So, they are continuing to extend certain deadlines wherever possible.

SSA has a new retirement portal at: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/