Medicare’s annual enrollment period has begun, and a nonprofit policy organization has released a first-ever guidebook to help seniors make decisions they will not regret.
The Medicare How-To Guide, a 120-page PDF publication from the nonprofit Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), helps seniors cut through the confusion and fine print of the numerous options, which require many tradeoffs and cannot be easily changed.
“When individuals enroll in Medicare, they often surrender key freedoms, including the ability to make private, independent health care decisions,” said CCHF Cofounder and President Twila Brase, RN, PHN, in a press release. “This guide was created to help Americans understand the restrictions and limitations of the Medicare system, from penalties to narrow provider networks to the often-overlooked painful realities of Medicare Advantage plans.”
There are various enrollment periods for Medicare, with coverage generally beginning at age 65. Medicare’s webpage shows enrollment is no simple task. Mistakes can be costly, as choices can limit coverage or provide more coverage than necessary, and there are penalties for failure to meet enrollment deadlines. The guidebook explains the various enrollment periods in detail.
Important Concerns
Seniors must keep in mind several key areas of concern when they make their Medicare choices, the guidebook states. Enrollees should make decisions with a long-term focus.
The guidebook points out that with growing enrollment and shrinking revenue, Medicare is unsustainable. CCHF advocates for “affordable major medical indemnity insurance” and an option for Social Security beneficiaries to opt out of Medicare.
The guidebook says it is also important to remember that Medicare is a defined benefit program with coverage limits. Most of all, Medicare is not “free” health care; it offers various plans with separate premiums.
“Medicare Advantage plans, while initially appealing, can severely restrict access to care,” states the guidebook. “It can be difficult to change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.”
The guidebook details 12 key points, 10 “Medicare traps,” a checklist, and a list of questions enrollees should ask brokers, such as what commissions they earn when they sell you a plan. The questions are based on actual statements from brokers.
Also in the guidebook are frequently asked questions, such as whether a person with an employer plan must enroll in Medicare at age 65, and a glossary of Medicare terminology.
Needed Clarity
One reason the CCHF released the guidebook is because nothing like it exists, Brase told Health Care News.
“We’ve heard from people who are surprised by what they learn,” said Brase. “Some are preparing to change their coverage from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare. One woman gave me a hug because she was so happy to have the Guide. She’s halfway through reading it. A physician emailed, saying she likes the 10 Medicare Traps section the best.”
Interest in the guide has been robust, says Brase.
“We expect the CCHF Medicare How-To Guide to grow and grow in readership, especially through word of mouth,” said Brase. “There are 10,000 baby boomers becoming eligible for Medicare every day. Free copies are being downloaded from our website from across the country. Although the costs [of Medicare] will change every year, in many ways it’s evergreen.”
CCHF is adding the latest cost updates, released this fall, to the guide.
AnneMarie Schieber (amschieber@heartland.org) is the managing editor of Health Care News.
This article was updated on November 21 to include comments from Twila Brase and on December 3 for additional clarification