Free Service Has Been Helping Delaware Medicare
Recipients For More Than Twenty Years

Dover, DE–Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart is pleased to announce that the ELDERinfo program will now be known as the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau or DMAB. ELDERinfo has been providing free, local assistance to Delaware’s Medicare recipients for 21 years, and it will continue to offer the same great services just with a new name. Commissioner Stewart stated, “With this new name we hope to reach more of the nearly 28,000 Medicare recipients in the state who are under age 65 and on Medicare due to a disability. Many of the younger Medicare recipients think the service is only for people age 65 and older. Additionally, many of the people today who are 65 and older do not feel ‘elderly’ and they reject terms that make them feel old. The new name better reflects the services that the program provides to the public. We think the new name will be a win-win for the staff and the public.”

As of September 2013, Delaware was home to 167,538 Medicare recipients which includes almost 28,000 individuals who are under the age of 65 and on Medicare due to disability. The program assisted 5,864 individuals in 2013 and helped Medicare recipients save more than two million dollars in prescription drug costs and $492,000 on Medicare Part B premiums. Approximately 18% of Delaware’s population receives Medicare benefits and that number is only going to grow as the Baby-Boomer generation turns 65.

According to Lakia Turner, director of the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau, the new name will hopefully reduce some confusion among the public because ELDERinfo often received calls from people who thought the program was a resource for all senior-related programs in the state. “DMAB is a free resource for Medicare recipients who have questions about Medigap plans, prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, financial assistance programs and anything else related to Medicare,” said Ms. Turner. “Our phone number will remain the same: 1-800-336-9500. You can also send e-mails to DMAB@delaware.gov or find information on our updated website, www.delawareinsurance.gov/DMAB.”

The Delaware Department of Insurance and the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau are taking this time to remind disabled Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 that with the passage of Senate Bill 42, SB 42, in 2013 there are new Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) options available to them but time to purchase the plans is limited. SB 42 became effective on January 1, 2014, and requires insurance companies that offer Medigap policies to people 65 and older to also offer the same policies to anyone under the age of 65 who qualifies for Medicare due to a disability.

Commissioner Stewart noted, “Existing Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 who had Medicare prior to January 1, 2014, only have until June 30, 2014 to purchase a Medigap plan under this law. Newly enrolled Medicare recipients under age 65 have six months to purchase one of these plans, from the time benefits begin. It’s very important that these individuals not wait until the last minute to compare plans or sign up, if they are interested. That’s why I encourage anyone with Medicare due to a disability under age 65 to call DMAB at 1-800-336-9500 today to get more information before their time to act expires.” The DMAB website, www.delawareinsurance.gov/DMAB, also has information about Medigap plans, including the 2014 Delaware Medicare Supplement Insurance Shopper’s Guide, which was just released yesterday.

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau also offers free info sessions for people who are turning 65 and want to learn about the basic concepts of their Medicare coverage. Other info sessions are offered during the annual open-enrollment period (October 15-December 7) to help recipients review their prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year. Sessions are held at various counseling sites throughout the state. See the website, www.delawareinsurance.gov/DMAB, for a list of sites or call 1-800-336-9500. Volunteers are a vital part of the DMAB program and any individuals who would like to volunteer with DMAB are encouraged to call for more information. There will be volunteer training sessions hosted in July 2014.

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Delaware Department of Insurance: “Protecting Delawareans through regulation
and education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.”

Dover, DE-October 11, 2012-Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart is encouraging people with Medicare and their families to begin reviewing drug and health plan coverage options for 2013. Commissioner Stewart reminds Delawareans that this year, seniors with Medicare now have access to cheaper prescription drugs, free preventive services, and lower costs.

“The Medicare Open Enrollment Period — which begins Monday, October 15 – has been expanded to last seven weeks and will end on December 7. This will give seniors and people with disabilities more time to compare and find the best plan that meets their unique needs”, said the Commissioner.

Beginning on October 16th, the Department’s ELDERinfo unit will be conducting a series of “Yearly Medicare Prescription Drug Check-ups” throughout Delaware.  You can find a date and location convenient to you by visiting the ELDERinfo Outreach Calendar on the DOI website at http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/departments/elder/elderinfo_calendar.shtml

“In 2013, people with Medicare can get certain preventive services for free and can get more affordable prescription drugs,” said Commissioner Stewart. “Open enrollment is seniors’ chance to review their Medicare choices and pick the plan that works for them, or keep the plan they have today.”

Using Medicare’s Plan Finder – available at www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan – Users will see an icon showing which plans received a low overall quality rating for the past three years.  Due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, additional benefits are available to people with Medicare, which include lower prescription drug costs through a 52.5 percent discount on covered brand name drugs in the coverage gap (also referred to as the “donut hole”), wellness checkups, and access to certain preventive care with no copayments – a benefit that all Medicare Advantage plans started offering in 2012.

Beneficiaries or their care givers seeking additional help can contact ELDERinfo, in-state, toll-free at 800-336-9500

Additional resources can be accessed by:

•       Visiting http://www.medicare.gov/, for a personalized comparison of costs and coverage of the plans available in their area. The popular Medicare Plan Finder tool has been enhanced for an efficient review of plan choices.  Spanish Open Enrollment information is available.

•       Calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for around-the-clock assistance to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Multilingual counseling is available.

•       Reviewing the 2013 Medicare & You handbook. It is also accessible online at: http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf — and it has been mailed to the homes of people with Medicare.

People with Medicare who have a limited income may qualify for Extra Help to pay for their prescription drug costs.  There is no cost to apply for Extra Help, also called the low-income subsidy, call ELDERinfo to find out more.

Protecting Against Fraud and Identity Theft

During this Open Enrollment Period, Commissioner Stewart recommends that people treat their Medicare number as they do their social security number and credit card information. People with Medicare should never give their personal information to anyone arriving at their home uninvited or making unsolicited phone calls selling Medicare-related products or services. Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact Medicare (contact information above). If you suspect you are the victim of Medicare fraud, call 1-800-223-9074. More information is available at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov

Free Counseling Available From ELDERinfo Program

Dover – With open enrollment for the Medicare prescription drug plan a month earlier than in previous years, Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart is reminding consumers that it offers a free service to help them choose the Medicare plan that best fits their needs.

The ELDERinfo program, funded by the department and Medicare, offers free, expert advice to Delawareans on Medicare for their loved ones. Consumers can ask questions by phone or arrange one-on-one counseling by calling 800-336-9500 or 302-674-7364 or by visiting http://delawareinsurance.gov/departments/elder/eldindex.shtml

The Commissioner said, “Open enrollment, which began October 15th and runs through December 7th, is a good time for Delawareans to review their current plans, make certain changes or choose other plans that best suit their needs. The first day of open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug plans is one month earlier than its traditional start of November 15th “.

During this enrollment period, Medicare beneficiaries will select their health plan and possibly their prescription drug plan. They will decide whether their 2011 Medicare health plan will be Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Those choosing Original Medicare will also choose a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). Additionally, Original Medicare beneficiaries may choose a Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement coverage) that will cover medical co-pays, deductibles, and in-patient hospital fees. The Medicare Advantage plan, an all-inclusive plan that usually includes prescription drug coverage, is an alternate health plan choice to Original Medicare. Commissioner Stewart urged citizens to review Medicare Advantage plans closely, since occasionally these plans may not include prescription drug coverage. In that case, a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan should be chosen, along with the Medicare Advantage Plan.

In Delaware in 2012, 31 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) are available. The prices for the PDPs range between $15.10 and $131.80 per month. 14 PDPs have $0 deductibles. Each year, plans’ costs and coverages change as well as health care needs. Therefore all people with Medicare should check to make sure their plan still meets their health care needs and budget for the upcoming year.

People can use the Medicare tool, Plan Finder – available at www.Medicare.gov – to compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans. You will need the following information: your zip code, Medicare number, effective date of Medicare Part A or Part B, date of birth and a list of your medications.

The Commissioner continued, “The ELDERinfo program is an ideal option for Delawareans who are searching for the right plan for them when it comes to Medicare coverage. The program has highly trained counselors who help consumers with what can be difficult and often complex decisions.”

ELDERinfo will be reaching out to seniors throughout Delaware during the open enrollment period. Consumers are invited to attend and get their Medicare questions answered by skilled counselors. A list of events is available by calling ELDERinfo or visiting the link above.

ELDERinfo can also help consumers determine whether they qualify for federal or state help in paying for prescription drugs on a limited income. Medicare offers the Extra Help Program.

Commissioner Stewart also wants to remind Medicare beneficiaries to be aware of scams that target the elderly. “Horror stories” have included aggressive door-to-door and phone solicitations. In general, agents may only discuss Medicare products during appointments arranged with the permission of the consumer.

Agents may not lawfully:

• Claim to represent or be endorsed by Medicare
• Solicit door-to-door
• Solicit using unwanted emails, text messages or voice mails
• Approach people in common areas like parking lots, hallways and sidewalks
• Pitch products in health care settings like hospital waiting areas, exam rooms, patient rooms and pharmacy counters
• Set up an appointment to discuss Medicare, then sell unrelated products like life insurance or annuities