Moving toward Medicare

Getting started with Medicare can seem a bit challenging, but it's really not that hard once you understand the fundamentals. We're here to help you. Here's a 3-step plan to get you going.

1. Determine your eligibility and enroll in Part A & Part B.

You're generally eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) at no charge if you paid into the Medicare program through your taxes for at least 10 years. And you're eligible for Part B (other medical coverage) if you're 65 or older and also an American citizen or permanent U.S. resident. If you have a disability, you may qualify for Medicare Part A and Part B even if you aren't yet 65.

To enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B, also known as Original Medicare, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit socialsecurity.gov. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. You should enroll during your initial enrollment period, which includes the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after your 65th birthday. You may want to enroll during the first 3 months to prevent any delays to the start of your Part B coverage.

If you're already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, you'll be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B on the first day of the month you turn 65. You don't need to do anything.

Once enrolled, watch the mail for your red, white and blue Medicare card.

2. Learn about your options for additional coverage.

There are plenty of resources to help you compare plans.

• Call Priority Health or see our plans online. Call 1-866-213-6198 (TTY users call 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to talk with a Priority Health Medicare expert. You can also order materials, such as our handy Medicare for Dummies book.
  
• Get face-to-face information. Priority Health offers free Medicare meetings where you can learn the basics about Medicare, compare benefits and more. Just call us or visit our meetings calendar to sign up for a meeting in your area.¹
  
• Check out your local Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP). This state program offers free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. Call 1-800-803-7174 to be linked to a counselor in your community.

3. Choose a plan from Priority Health.

Your Medicare options give you the freedom to select a plan that fits your budget and your needs. If you're looking for affordable choices and local customer service, consider Priority Health Medicare. Priority Health was ranked among the nation’s top 25 health plans nationally for the 5th year in a row by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Options that you can choose from include the following:

Medicare Advantage + Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans²

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. Priority Health is contracted with the federal government to provide these Medicare plans. If you choose a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, you'll get all your Part A and Part B coverage (you must continue to pay your Part B premium) and your Part D prescription drug coverage. Many plans offer hearing, vision and dental services, and fitness memberships and/or health and wellness programs. To enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.

We offer 3 MAPD plans: PriorityMedicare Value^SM (HMO-POS), PriorityMedicare^SM (HMO-POS) and PriorityMedicare Select^SM (PPO).³ All 3 include:

• Doctor visits and hospital coverage
• Emergency and urgent care
• Coverage throughout the U.S. and around the world
• Select vision, dental and hearing services
• Prescription drug coverage
• Fitness membership and wellness tools

Medigap (Medicare Supplement)⁴ plans

Medigap plans help pay for some of your out-of pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover. You purchase a Medigap plan from a private insurer like Priority Health. These plans complement Original Medicare; they don't replace it.

Medigap plans are standardized nationwide — Plan A from one company will give you the same benefits as Plan A from another company. The only difference between the plans is their monthly premiums and the quality of the customer service. You must have Part A and Part B to purchase a Medigap policy. Prescription drugs aren't covered.

We offer 4 plans — A, D, F and N — and:

• Our plans start at less than $100.⁵
• You'll enjoy low out-of-pocket expenses.
• Plans are offered statewide.
• You'll receive coverage throughout the U.S. and around the world.⁶
• There's coverage for doctor visits and hospital care.

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan (PDP)

Medicare Part D only covers prescription drugs and is separate from Original Medicare. Part D is available through Priority Health, and you need to have Medicare Part A and/or Part B to purchase it. You can also receive Part D coverage through many Medicare Advantage plans.

We also offer PriorityMedicare Rx^SM (PDP), which is available statewide as a drug coverage-only plan. It's great if you just need drug coverage, and you can add it to any of our Medigap plans. You can enroll into the PriorityMedicare Rx plan by calling 1-866-213-6169 (TTY users call 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, to talk to a Priority Health Medicare expert.

Easy ways to get more help

There are lots of ways you can find out more about our plans and your Medicare options.

• Visit our Medicare website.
• Call us at 1-866-213-6198 (TTY users call 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Priority Health Medicare experts are available to answer your questions, to sign you up for an informational meeting or to help provide accommodations for persons with special needs at sales meetings.
• Attend a free Medicare informational meeting in your area. Call us or go online to find meeting
  times and locations and to sign up.*
  *A sales person will be present with information and applications.

Topics: Medicare