12 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 With so much information — and misinformation — floating around about Medicare, what do seniors need to know before buying a plan? YEAR-END SHOPPING SPREE Medicare open enrollment period bombards seniors with flood of information Aaron Zolbrod guesses that individuals 65 and older will probably receive at least 100 pieces of mail advertising Medicare plans during this fall’s open enrollment period. That might be a conservative estimate. It also doesn’t include television advertisements and other marketing methods companies are using to sell their plans to customers. “I’ve never seen more companies more aggressive and using more misleading advertising in the 10 years I’ve been doing this,” said Zolbrod, owner of The Health Insurance Store in Connellsville. “They’re being very aggressive, and it’s more competitive than ever before.” The inundation is enough to confuse and overwhelm anyone. There are, however, people who can help seniors and their caregivers and loved ones sift through all the numbers and the terminology in order to find the best plans for them, and at no cost for the service. APPRISE is Pennsylvania’s free health insurance counseling program, created by the state’s Department of Aging, to assist older residents in understanding their options and choosing what best fits their needs. Bill McKendree oversees the APPRISE program in Allegheny County, run through Family Services of Western Pa., and said that one of the biggest concerns seniors express to him is the ability to have access to the doctors and facilities they want to use as the official split of Highmark and UPMC in June 2019 approaches. The second-greatest concern, he said, has to do with prescription medications. One of the things he sees people most often struggle with, in terms of understanding their options, is the difference between Medigap supplements and advantage plans, which are HMOs or PPOs. “There is a difference between a Medigap, which is supplemental to Medicare A and B, versus an advantage plan, which is an HMO or PPO regulated under Medicare but provided by private insurers,” he said. “There are pros and cons to each, and we go to great lengths to make sure people understand the difference.” One piece of advice McKendree offered in shopping for a plan is to not go chasing the premium. “Step back and say, ‘What do I need?’” he said. “The first stop is meds. If you’re lucky, none at all. If you’re a little less lucky, all HEALTHCAREANDINSURANCE BY KAREN PRICE
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