More Good News Regarding Equitable Relief for Part B Penalties

In October, we shared the good news that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the equitable relief for Part B penalties for one more year until September 30, 2019. We also found out that CMS is adopting our recommendation to create a permanent fix. Both of these changes will make a significant difference in the lives of many beneficiaries. Learn more.

VA's New Final Rule Affects Several of its Needs-Based Programs

Last month, the Department of Veteran Affairs’ new final rule went into affect, which significantly impacts the VA Pension, the Aid & Attendance Benefit and some other needs-based benefit programs. Those who work with Veterans should be aware of these changes when advising clients. Many of the changes affect certain eligibility requirements, such as net worth, asset transfers rules, allowable deductible medical expenses, and income and asset exclusions. Read more.

Watch Out for "Spoofed" Social Security Phone Scams

Have you received any calls that appear to be from Social Security where the caller asks for your Social Security number in order to “increase your benefits”? Or threatens that your benefits will be cut off if you don’t give your Social Security number? If so, hang up. It’s a scam. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning people of scammers using a caller ID trick called “spoofing”. With spoofing, scammers make it appear that they’re calling from the Social Security Administration’s 1-800-772-1213, when in fact they can be calling from anywhere. They can control what number shows up on a person’s caller ID. Learn tips to protect yourself and loved ones. Read more.

Be Informed with the Medicare Fully Informed Project

Each year during Medicare’s Open Enrollment (Oct 15- Dec 7), beneficiaries are inundated with marketing materials from growing numbers of Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans, and materials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). While these materials are supposed to help beneficiaries review current plan changes and make informed choices for their 2019 health coverage, often materials and information can be misleading. Even CMS’ materials have been more and more biased toward Medicare Advantage plans and sometimes even fail to mention the option of having traditional Medicare with a supplement Medigap plan.

In an effort to provide a variety of unbiased, accurate and comprehensive information about the full range of Medicare coverage options, our partners, the Center for Medicare Advocacy and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare have put together a package of materials called, the Medicare Fully Informed Project. It contains an array of tools to assist in making the best individual enrollment choices, such as a self help document to help choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, key corrections to CMS' Medicare & You handbook, a decision tree infographic, and more. Read more and share these resources with your friends, family and colleagues.

Half Way Through Medicare's Open Enrollment ~ Review Your 2019 Medicare Options!

Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment is already half way done! Officially known as the Annual Election Period which runs through December 7, this is main time when you can change your coverage. All changes are effective January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or disenroll and return to Original Medicare. Similarly if you’re in Original Medicare and would like to join an MA plan, you can. You can also join, disenroll from or switch Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Each year, Medicare health plans and Part D prescription drug plans can change their premiums, deductibles, cost-sharing and some benefits, or discontinue their coverage altogether. Therefore it’s good to be aware of how your plan may change, and prepare accordingly. Learn some helpful preparation tips. Read more.

Join Us at Online Care Fair, 11/15 from 2-5 p.m. PST ~ Free Resources for Caregivers

Do you know of any caregivers looking for helpful advice, resources and real support? If so, spread the word and join us for AARP’s free live Online Care Fair on Thursday, November 15, 2018, 2-5 p.m. PST.

Both California Health Advocates and our California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) are participating and will have a virtual both and live chat throughout the event.

REGISTER HERE: http://spr.ly/6182DCnYi

We look forward to "seeing you" and please help spread the word! Read more.

Smiles & Good Feelings ~ Join Us on #Giving Tuesday to Give Back

Giving does good. Not only do people receiving a gift feel good, but the giver is filled with happiness, wellbeing and a fulfilling sense of doing something good! This act of giving has a ripple effect and can easily spread smiles and good feelings far and wide, causing a cascade of good things! And, in the stresses of life, including political strife, rising health insurance costs and uncertainty, spreading good is an important and essential way to give back to our families and communities!

This is why we at California Health Advocates are again participating in this year’s #Giving Tuesday event, a global movement of giving back, on Tuesday November 27, 2018. We invite you to join us in this local and global act of giving! Read more.

Thank You in advance! :-) Your help ensures the continuation of our advocacy and education work on behalf of California’s over 5 million Medicare beneficiaries. Make your tax deductible donation today!

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