As A Beneficiary How Do You Find Out About Any New Changes in Coverage or Plan Design or Availabilit

[GailL1]

Various changes can be made to Medicare at different government levels.  How do you find out about them especially if they are very beneficial to you?

For example, the addition of a new preventive service available at no out of pocket cost.  In the last few years, Medicare has added PrEP coverage under Part B with the associative monthly blood work all covered - This is covered under Part B but it seems many who need this coverage still have this med submitted under Part D and that is costing them lots of money.  

Or another example would be how approved immunizations are now covered as NO out of pocket.  Another would be the addition of a preventive test - like the low dose CT Scan for lung cancer if one is a smoker or was a smoker sometimes in their life. 

Or at the state level, a change in state law that would allow you to switch your Medigap plan to another carrier or plan (equal or lesser usually) with NO underwriting which may save premium cost.  Or even some states (currently NY, MA & CT) that allow you to drop your Medicare Advantage plan and go back to Traditional Medicare and also have access to a Medigap plan of your choice with NO Underwriting.  This later option is called “continuous enrollment “ at the state level - or they may have it with a specific sign up period.

I remember one case of a daughter asking about how to help her Mom with her Medigap cost - she was paying over $ 800 a month for her Medigap coverage - we only had to find out her state (in this case, NY) and she was saved almost $ 500 a month just by switching to another carrier at a lower premium.  They vary greatly in premiums even when the rating method is the same.

My question here is simple - how do your find out about Medicare and specifically any new changes that happen from year to year that may benefit you.  I think AARP does pretty good at getting out these things in various articles but I am not sure how many beneficiaries read them or perhaps understand them. 

A lot of times, there may be specific ways to access these benefits and how they are billed to the program - so there is also a learning curve there too.  Docs are suppose to get these Medicare Learning Network bulletins that describe all of this but I often find they don’t know about them nor does their billing employees know how to bill for them either.

Medicare is a complicated program - the Traditional program to me is even more complicated than a MA PLAN but that is complicated too so maybe it is half and half.  

Do you read your Explanation of Coverage?  Do you read Medicare . gov? 

Inquiring minds would like to know - How would you be more apt to see these changes?  Or do they matter to you and your health?

[Winter2025VA]

@GailL1 WROTE.

Do you read your Explanation of Coverage? Do you read Medicare . gov? Inquiring minds would like to know - How would you be more apt to see these changes? Or do they matter to you and your health?

➡️[*** Yes to all the above & I get emails from my online Medicare Account.

Okay logging back out. Had just done this & saw your post. Have a great night, Nicole!

[GailL1]

@Winter2025VA 

Who sends the email notices ?  Medicare.gov?  Your state since you have a MSP? 

I know that they are covered in a highlighted section of the annual “Medicare and You” publication but not in detail especially if it involves how claims are processed - like a change in which Medicare part covers it - which makes all the difference.

Maybe MA plans cover them in their annual policy updates in their Explanation of Coverage.  

I never see them outside of my readings on CMS or Medicare websites or they are BIG news somehow, like a legislative change.  

TIA

[Winter2025VA]

@GailL1 , not sure what you are needing here and tried my best to respond. Maybe someone else will respond. Take care, Nicole!

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@GailL1 wrote:

@Winter2025VA 

Who sends the email notices ?  Medicare.gov?  Your state since you have a MSP? 

I know that they are covered in a highlighted section of the annual “Medicare and You” publication but not in detail especially if it involves how claims are processed - like a change in which Medicare part covers it - which makes all the difference.

Maybe MA plans cover them in their annual policy updates in their Explanation of Coverage.  

I never see them outside of my readings on CMS or Medicare websites or they are BIG news somehow, like a legislative change.  

TIA

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