It is that time again – the time to remind anyone who wants to review or change their Medicare coverage that Medicare Open Enrollment is here. The Annual Open Enrollment Period for 2022 coverage runs from October 15, 2021 to December 7, 2021. This year free health insurance counselors are available through the MEDI (PA Medicare Education and Decision Insight – formerly known as APPRISE) program at multiple locations throughout the State and specifically throughout Chester County. Most appointments this year will be by phone.
Here is how you can obtain additional information and/or schedule a free appointment. Note that if you are in a County other than Chester County, Pennsylvania you can call 1-800-783-7067 to connect to your County’s PA MEDI.
For Chester County residents, you can log in online for information, by checking https://www.chesco.org/477/PA-Medicare-Education.
To contact Chester County PA MEDI AOEP Helpline directly call 610-344-5234. You can also call to schedule an individual appointment at the Chester County Government Services Center at 610-344-6035 and additional call locations are located at several senior centers throughout the County.
For email send your email to [email protected].
This is some of what you need to know.
As to prescription drugs, you want to consider the drugs you are using and expect to use and their tier or whether they are considered specialty drugs.
For health coverage you want to know you are covered and what you would pay for serious illness. Generally speaking, a Medicare Supplement plan may have certain advantages over a Medicare Advantage plan especially if you might move or become seriously ill.
If you are happy with what you have and are currently on a Medicare plan you may be just fine. This is a time to examine, not necessarily to change.
If you are confused, get help. The Chester County MEDI program staffed by volunteers and free of charge, is excellent.
Esquire, Colliton Law Associates, P.C. Janet Colliton has practiced law for over 38 years, 37 of them in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her practice, Colliton Law Associates, PC, is limited to elder law, Medicaid, including advice, applications and appeals, and other benefits planning including Veterans benefits, life care and special needs planning, guardianships, retirement, and estate planning and administration.