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Taylor Announces Department of Insurance Holding Free "Medicare Check-up" Events in Cuyahoga County

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Taylor Announces Department of Insurance Holding Free "Medicare Check-up" Events in Cuyahoga County

Thursday, 20 September 2012 07:19

health care web copy Insurance agents are prohibited from using high pressure sales tactics,

COLUMBUS- OhioLieutenantGovernorandDepartmentofInsuranceDirectorMaryTaylorannouncedthe Department's OhioSeniorHealthInsuranceInformationProgram(OSIITIP)isholdingfree"MedicareCheck-up" presentation-onlyeventsfrom12:30p.m.to1:30p.m.inCuyahogaCountyonSept 24attheCollinwoodRecreation Center,locatedat16300LakeshoreBlvd.,inClevelandandSept 27attheEuclidSeniorCenter,locatedatOneBliss Ln.,inEuclid.TheeventscoincidewithMedicare's Oct 15toDec.7annualenrolhnentperiod.Theyareintendedto helppeoplereviewchangestoMedicareanddeterminetheirbestcoverageoptionfor2013.

OSIITIPrecentlycelebratedits20thanniversaryasMedicare'sdesignatededucationalprograminOhiofor beneficiaries,familymembersandhealthcareprofessionals.

"DeterminingtheappropriateMedicarecoverageshouldbedonewiththehelpofafamilymemberoraknowledgeable andtrustedadvisorsuchasarepresentativefromourOSHIIPprogram,"Taylorsaid."Thisshouldbeacareful, deliberateprocesssoyousecureaplanthatbestmeetsyourbealthcareneedsandbudget."

InadditiontotheCheck-upevents,peoplecancallOSIITIPat1-800-686-1578withquestions,andforenrollment assistance(beginningOct 15).A specialDepartmentMedicareCheck-upandOpenEnrollmentToolkit,which includesalistofplans(tobeatmotmcedinOct.), financialassistanceinfmmation,andaneventsschedule,isavailable at www.insurance.ohio.gov. YoucanalsolikeandfollowOSIITIPonFacebookat www.facebook.com/OSHIIP.

Duringannualenrollment,beneficiariescanselectoneofseveralhealthcoverageoptions:1)OriginalMedicarepaired withastand-alonePartDprescriptiondmgplanandperhapsaMedicareSupplementplan.2)AMedicareAdvantage Plan,whichprovidescomprehensivehealthbenefitsincludingdrugcoverage.3)Or,determineiftheirexisting coveragewillmeettheirhealthinsuranceneedsfortheupcomingyear.

Whenreviewingplanoptions,Taylorsaidtoconsidertheconvenienceofbeingabletousepharmaciesnearwhereyou workorlive,totakeintoaccountallout-of-pocketexpenses,andensureaplan'scovereddruglistincludesyour prescriptions.

Attheevents,beneficiariescanlearnaboutrecentchangestoMedicaresuchasthenewMedicaredeductibles,co-pay, andcoinsuranceamounts;MedicareAdvantageandPartDplanoptionsfor2013,andaboutfinancialassistance programs.Attendeesshouldbringtheirprescriptionsdrugslistwithdosagesandpreferredpharmacy,andinformation onretirementcoverage,Veteran's Administration(VA)orothermedicalcarebenefitstheyreceive.

Whilethevastmajorityofinsuranceagentsareupstandingprofessionalslendingimportantadvice,wrfortunatelythere canbeafewbadactors.TaylorasksOhioanstowatchforpredatorysalespracticesduringaruma!enrollment.

Insuranceagentsareprohibitedfromusinghighpressure salestactics,conductingdoor-to-doorsales forMedicare Advantageplans,andrepresentingthemselvesasbeingfl·omMedicare.Peoplewhoposetobeagentscanalsouse similartactics.Ifyoufeelvictimized,getasmuchinformationaspossibleandcallthe Department'sfraudand enforcementhotlineat1-800-686-1527.

ThosewithMedicarequestionsandinneed enrollmentassistance,includingfinancialassistance,cancallOSHIIP at1-

800-686-1578,Mondaytlu·oughFriday, 7:30a.m.to5p.m.,orMedicareat1-800-i\ffiDICARE(1-800-633-4227),24 hours-a-day,sevendays-a-week.Informationisalso availableat www.medicare.gov.