Most Medicare beneficiaries are familiar with the official Medicare website, www.medicare.gov and use it at the very least to find and enroll in Medicare Part D prescription plans.  Medicare also offers an integrated website, MyMedicare.gov, a free, secure, online service for managing personal information regarding Original Medicare benefits and services.

MyMedicare.gov keeps your Medicare information private and accessible only to you. Original Medicare beneficiaries can create an account and use it to check coverage, enrollment status and Medicare claims.  This program is available only to those who have Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage plans.

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MyMedicare.gov has all the functionality and navigation that exists on Medicare.gov, with a similar looking site and identical menu options. The difference is that on MyMedicare.gov, you can create a secure account to keep all of your personal health-care information confidential. You can use the Live Chat service to get assistance with a customer service representative, or call 1-877-607-9663 to reach MyMedicare.gov technical support.

You can help your doctor get access to all the necessary information about your Medicare coverage, drugs, and health records to provide you with the care you need. Get your MyMedicare.gov On the Go Report and keep it with you so doctors can help you. You never know when you might need to see a doctor while you’re out of town, and a doctor will have access to your personal list of medications.

To set up your account for the first time, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your Medicare number (found on your Medicare card)
• Mailing address
• Date of birth
• Effective date for Medicare Part A

Make sure that your mailing address matches the address that the Social Security Administration or Railroad Retirement Board has on file for you.

Once you’ve set up an account, you’ll be able to use MyMedicare.gov to manage your Medicare benefits, including:

• Checking the status of your Medicare claims
• Reviewing your personal health records, prescription drugs, and preventive services.
• Finding information on your Medicare costs, eligibility, and enrollment.
• Printing an “On the Go Report” that summarizes your medical information for your doctors.

If you have questions, go to MyMedicare.gov Help for access to some important features of MyMedicare.gov, including information on what to do when you’ve forgotten your MyMedicare.gov password and how to get technical assistance. You can use the Live Chat service to get assistance with a customer service representative, or call 1-877-607-9663 to reach MyMedicare.gov technical support.

Will Medicare Supplement Plans C and F be sold after 2019?

As a result of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), individuals who are newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 will not be able to purchase Medigap Plan C or Plan F (including the Plan F high deductible option). This is because after January 1, 2020, MACRA prevents individuals new to Medicare from purchasing Medigaps that pay for the Part B deductible ($185 in 2019). Both Plan C and Plan F cover the Part B deductible.

If you currently have Medigap Plan C or Plan F, you can continue to renew it from insurers in your state. As always, premiums for Medigaps can change from year to year, and Medigap issuers may choose to discontinue plan offerings. Your right to switch plans if your premiums increase depends on your state’s laws. If your Medigap is terminated, you will have a guaranteed issue period.

If you are newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you will not be able to purchase Plan C or Plan F. However, Plan D and Plan G currently provide coverage for all the same out-of-pocket costs, except for the Part B deductible coverage.

For more information about these topics, help navigating Medicare or to make an appointment to speak with an APPRISE Medicare counselor, call 610-834-1040 ext. 120.  APPRISE counselors are specially trained staff and volunteers who can answer your questions about Medicare and provide you with objective, easy-to-understand information about Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, and Long-Term Care Insurance.  APPRISE is a free health insurance counseling program. The Montgomery County APPRISE Program is administered through RSVP under the auspices of Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services.

RSVP is a multi-service nonprofit organization that provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to help meet the critical human needs in Montgomery, Chester and Delaware Counties.  RSVP has been placing volunteer into the community for 45 years.

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