Medicare help available during open enrollment period Oct. 15-Dec. 7
When COVID-19 required cancellation of the Department of Insurance Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau series of statewide Welcome to Medicare in-person events, the team responded rapidly, engaging with residents in new ways and offering free, one-on-one Medicare counseling remotely.
The bureau has provided more than 2,930 counseling sessions so far this year, saving beneficiaries more than $192,000 in premiums through application assistance.
“We are all facing new challenges due to COVID-19, and I’m proud that our DMAB team has found ways to communicate with Medicare beneficiaries, and made Medicare education and empowerment more accessible despite the inability to offer in-person events,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.
The bureau will engage in thousands of counseling sessions in the coming months, as Medicare Open Enrollment takes place Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Dec. 7. During this time, beneficiaries can make changes to their health insurance coverage and review existing coverage against other options. DMAB will offer virtual open enrollment appointments throughout this period, available via Webex, Duo and Skype, as well as by phone. Residents are encouraged to register for a MyMedicare.gov account prior to their counseling session so that the bureau can generate personalized plan comparisons.
“Many people have questions about Medicare and don’t know where to start, and COVID-19 has only increased the stress of choosing the right healthcare plans. We are here to help people in Delaware deal with the complex and often confusing health insurance system, and we’re more accessible than ever through our new virtual programs,” said Lakia Turner, DMAB director.
The bureau began to offer virtual Welcome to Medicare seminars in May, engaging 150 residents. Now available on-demand online, the seminars educate participants on topics including Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug coverage and details on signing up.
As Medicare open enrollment approaches, the department reminds residents to assess any contact during the open enrollment period to ensure it is from a known, credible source. The most frequent fraudulent contact occurs by phone, but residents should review communications carefully.
“If you are receiving contact regarding Medicare that you did not initiate, or contact not from one of your healthcare providers, it could be fraudulent,” said Navarro. “Protect your Medicare number like you do your Social Security number or bank account information, and never give it out to unknown or unexpected callers.”
The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau provides free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people eligible for Medicare. To set up a free and confidential session, residents can call 1-800-336-9500 or 302-674-7364. Counselors can assist with Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap Medicare supplement insurance, long-term care insurance, billing issues, prescription savings and much more.
