Here’s how it works:

If you’re currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or prescription drug plan with 4.5 stars or fewer, you can switch to a different plan in your area that has a five-star rating. The big news is that you don’t have to wait for Annual Enrollment because you can switch ANY time of the year. This option is available once per plan year, meaning if you choose to switch, you’ll be on your new plan for the rest of the year and cannot switch back.

Now, for the bad news: There aren’t many plans which currently have a 5-star rating. However, we expect the number of plans receiving a 5-star grade to grow in coming years.

If you aren’t familiar with the quality ratings, you’re in good company. As a recent study showed, most Medicare-eligible seniors are not familiar with the government’s quality rating system. We are hopeful that by building awareness of the 5-star special enrollment option, and the rating systems, we’ll be able to help beneficiaries make more informed decisions in future plan years.

For more information visit the Medicare web site. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-800-1999 or contact us online.

Additional resources:

• Medicare Plan Finder

In an effort to allow you or your loved ones ample time to review and understand your options for 2012, we encourage you to investigate your options today. Remember, plan options and coverage change every year, so you may need a few days to fully review the plans and coverage available in your area.

Again, if you need to make a change, or know someone that does, please don’t wait until the last minute! Should you have questions, feel free to contact us.

And as always, for official Medicare news and information visit Medicare.gov or Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Important Disclaimer:  Insurance Services, LLC is not associated with, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or the Department of Health and Human Services.   CMS has not reviewed or endorsed this article or any of the content on this website.   Insurance Services, LLC is not connected with any entity of the US Government or CMS.   More information about Medicare can be found at the official US Government site for Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.

Now UPMC has launched an informational website at www.keepyourdoc.com. It appears that UPMC intends to use Keepyourdoc.com to provide news and status updates as the dispute with Highmark continues, and more importantly, as the June 30, 2012 contract termination date approaches. While it appears to be a work in progress, we thought it was worth mentioning; as noted on the site, UPMC plans to update information “as additional issues arise”.

Highmark, on the other hand, provides press releases on it’s main website. It does not appear to have any additional dispute-specific web resources available (at the time of writing).

We hope these items help you continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds. As always, feel free to contact us with questions or concerns.

Background Reading:

• Insurance Dept may delay end of UPMC, Highmark contract
• UPMC, Highmark contract in jeopardy
• UPMC Won’t Negotiate With Highmark
• Highmark lashes UPMC on growth strategy

• 3.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA).
• An increase from $106,800 to $110,100 in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax.

In other words, for most people receiving Social Security checks, they’ll be getting a little more in 2012. As for the taxes, if a worker earned $109,000 in 2011, and also earns $109,000 in 2012, they’ll pay tax on an extra $2,200 of earnings next year.

As the article in USA Today notes, this is the first cost of living increase since 2009.

And here is the official press release.

See also:
» Social Security Administration’s home page.

• Somerset, PA
• Johnstown, PA
• Franklin, PA
• Pittsburgh – South (South Park, PA)

If you’re in the area, stop in and say hello, we’d love to meet our new neighbors.  Contact information for each office is available here.

Insurance Services is committed to delivering satisfaction through service.  We welcome your feedback on ways to better serve you.

Medicare Annual Enrollment starts earlier this year.

Unlike prior years, this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment period runs from October 15, 2011 through December 7, 2011.  It’s important to note this is a change from prior years, when the enrollment period ended on December 31st.

Remember that Medicare Annual Enrollment is the designated period in which Medicare beneficiaries may switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.

Plan benefits and service areas change each year.

For current Medicare Advantage plan members, or those considering a Medicare Advantage plan, it’s important to verify your plan details for the upcoming year before the end of the Annual Enrollment period.  In addition to possible premium changes, your plan’s prescription drug formulary may have changed, so it’s important to understand how these changes, if any, may affect you.

MA plans may also update their provider networks for the upcoming plan year, so for HMO plans especially, it’s a good idea to check on the doctors and hospitals that will be counted as in-network for 2012.

Lastly, plan service areas may change on an annual basis.  It’s a good idea to verify the plan you had last year is still available in your area.  If you moved within the last year and haven’t updated your address information or checked to see if your plan is available at your new location, now is the time to take action.  You may even find that new plans are available in your area, leaving you with more choices for 2012.

We hope these simple suggestions help you better prepare for this year’s Annual Enrollment Period.  Should you have questions, feel free to contact us.  And as always, for official Medicare news and information visit Medicare.gov.

Important Disclaimer:  Insurance Services, LLC is not associated with, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or the Department of Health and Human Services.   CMS has not reviewed or endorsed this article or any of the content on this website.   Insurance Services, LLC is not connected with any entity of the US Government or CMS.   More information about Medicare can be found at the official US Government site for Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.

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