It is a time of opportunity, and possibly confusion, for seniors and other Central New Yorkers on Medicare. The annual election period got underway on Wednesday, October 15th. The enrollment period is an opportunity is to move to a Medicare Advantage plan that better fits your health and budget, and Universal American can offer plans and advice about selecting coverage. Colleen Schmidt, Northeast President for Universal American, advises people in Syracuse to consider what health issues they might face.
“There are some standard benefits that all health plans are required to have for Medicare, but the benefits change in what is out of pocket, and what is the co-pay. For example, inpatient could be anywhere from $0 to a $300 co-pay, and your premium can be $0 upward,” Schmidt said on Thursday.
Schmidt adds you want to make sure to take note of certain things: like lab work, preventive care, and whether your regular doctors are in the plan’s network. The confusion comes in due to all the plans that exist. Also, she points out, information on the internet can be overwhelming. She recommends it might be wise to get an in-person consultation. The deadline for enrollment for those currently on Medicare is December 7th. For more information or to sign up for a plan, visit the official Medicare website at Medicare.gov.
