Medicare Monday: Ask the expert

It is Monday, in case you forgot, which brings us to another edition of our Medicare Monday series here, because there is no end of questions about navigating the open enrollment for Medicare and the folks that are helping people with that, Minnesota Aging Pathways. Let's see, it's the Minnesota Board on Aging. Their helpline is Minnesota Aging Pathways. But you know who knows way more about it than me is Kelly Jo Greiner. Bring in Kelly Jo again. Let's How has your call volume been since the last time we talked, go ahead which has been overwhelming? Yes, our call volume is still over a thousand calls a day. and get So we are hearing from more Minnesota started. Medicare beneficiaries than we have ever heard from in the history of our program. So that is a new development, you could say. We're hearing from people that have never had to make a Medicare change since they became eligible for Medicare. So it's affecting a lot more people than we've assisted in previous years simply because some people are not left without any option. They have to get a new plan by the end of the month or by the end of December, I should say, by December 7. Well, and again, you said that there are folks that have never had to make a change in their open enrollment until this year. Right. I mean, what are all the differences? I mean, I know we've talked about gone over this ground before, but what are all the differences This is this year that people who've never had to make a change before do now. Yes, there are so many Medicare Advantage plans that pulled out of counties in Minnesota. So they may still be in five or six counties, whereas last year they were in 20 counties. So those people that are in those 15 counties affected by the plan withdrawal have to make a decision for 2027 in order to ensure they have coverage. And we have never seen a withdrawal of this scope as we have seen this year with the numbers of plans that are leaving Minnesota. We have Humana left the entire state of Minnesota for all of their Medicare Advantage plans. So that was a huge impact. And then we have a lot of the other Medicare Advantage plans that simply are not providing services in the counties they have I have provided services in for many years. Well, Kelly Jo, to that point, our first question hits on exactly that issue with people worried about what they're going to do, their availability. So let's bring this up from Steve in, let's see, do we have the question? I can see it here. From Pequot Lakes is there, Any feedback on the discontinued availability of advantage plans in Crow Wing County? Only thing available is a gap plan at astronomical prices. And he wonders, do I have to move to another state? The Crow Wing County issue is very serious. I'm not going to minimize that. I hope you're not going to have to move. We want you to stay in Minnesota. But in terms of what your options are, it is returning to original Medicare and purchasing a Medigap, otherwise known as a Medicare supplemental policy to fill in those Medicare gaps. There are no Medicare Advantage Plans available. And there are no Medicare cost plans available in Crow Wing County for this next year. So that is having a devastating effect on people that reside in that area that had been with the Medicare Advantage plan for many years. And now that plan has left or is leaving. He mentions the only thing available, a gap plan at astronomical prices. I mean, what kind of prices are people staring down here? Medicare supplemental policies always, for the most part, tend to be more expensive than Medicare Advantage policies or plans. And the Medigap policies can be, we're talking $200 to $250 a month is what it can cost people in addition to having to pay their other Medicare costs. So it can be very expensive depending on the type of Medigap policy they purchase. All right, let's move on to another question because obviously people are wondering, they got four weeks until this closes and maybe there are other options that come. I don't know if the other options come up in the meantime, but Jeff in St. Paul wondering, is it true there is a short window early next year to change your plan again? Jeff, that's a great question and a great segue into the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, which runs from January 1st through March 31st of 2027. And the way that you become eligible for that is if you start the new year. Enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can change Medicare Advantage plans during that time period. You can return to original Medicare. You can purchase a Medicare Part D plan, but you have to start the year on January 1st already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Okay, and then another question that we have about enrollment timing here from Stan in Minneapolis. What are the implications of starting Medicare at age 68 with parts G or N and D on December 1st while working versus on January 1st when retired? So he's talking about a month apart starting Medicare. Okay, I'm trying to figure out parts G, N, or D because it's A, B, and D are the parts of Medicare, and then part C is Medicare Advantage. So I'm not sure what G or N are. I know what part D is. Okay, well, maybe there's a typo in that. But he's asking about starting Medicare at age 68 on December 1st while working versus January 1st when retired. If you continue to work, You are not going to want to enroll in Medicare Part B until you need that benefit. So if you're going to retire January 1st, you are going to want to make sure that prior to that date, you have enrolled in Medicare Part B, so it will take effect on January 1st. So you'll have that coverage in place. I hope that's answering your question. Okay. Well, Thank He knows where to call if he's got your helpline. All right, one more here. Let's see. On you unemployment now at 66, when do I apply for Medicare? for If you're on unemployment right now watching. and you are eligible for Medicare and you're getting unemployment benefits but you're not working, you should apply for Medicare now is really what you Okay, we got one more, Kelly. You're ready to answer one more? Sure. All right, here we go. This is Danielle Minneapolis. How is Medicare Advantage access affecting those of us on SSDI with high mental health medical needs? It is, well, the Medicare Advantage plans have to cover mental health services at the same level original Medicare A and B does. That doesn't necessarily mean it's totally adequate on either side. There are definitely gaps in coverage when it comes to mental health needs. But the Medicare Advantage plans do have to cover that. If you are on SSDI, that in most situation means you are younger than age 65. In Minnesota, you can purchase a Medigap policy. You of course can also get a Medicare Advantage plan and your mental health services are going to hopefully be covered, but you're going to be limited to the providers you can go to. They do not have as many providers with Medicare Advantage plans to cover mental health as they do under Original Medicare. But if your provider participates, that's all you're going to care about. Okay. All right, tell people again where to go with questions, and again, you're inundated, but- Call the Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433 from 8 a.m. to 4.30 Monday through Friday, and you can also call 1-800-Medicare 24 hours a day, and they will provide assistance to you no matter what time you call it. The Minnesota Aging Pathways, if you didn't get the number, Google it, Minnesota Aging Pathways, and you'll get all the information. I know it's right there. Amber's yelling at me because if people don't have time to write it down, just saying where they can go find it if they can't get it. And that is the Minnesota Aging Pathways. Kelly, Joe, thank you so much. We'll talk to you again next week. All right. Thank you, everybody. And school. Go Vikes. All right. There you go.