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New to Medicare Presentation
The East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (ECKAAA) will present in 2025, four New to Medicare Presentations January 15th and 16th, April 16th and 17th, July 16th and 17th, and
Oct 15th and 16th. The presentation will be conducted at the Area Agency Aging.
Registration is required, and a donation of $10 is requested.
The New to Medicare presentation will help newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries:
- Understand Medicare enrollment dates, procedures, and penalties
- Understand what Medicare covers and how much plan benefits cost
- Understand how Medicare works with current employee coverage, retiree coverage, federal benefits, or military benefits
- Understand how to compare Drug Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Medicare Supplemental Plans
We recommend this presentation for anyone who will be new to Medicare or retiring within the next few months.
Call 785-242-7200 to register.
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DID YOU ENROLL IN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN FOR 2025 AND NOW HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT DECISION??
If you switched to a Medicare Advantage Plan or to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, and are not happy with the decision you made during the recent Open Enrollment Period, Medicare provides a way that you can undo that decision or switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan.
Beginning on January 1st, Medicare has a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period. During this time, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your health plan, you can do one of these:
- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage
- Go back to Original Medicare and, if needed, also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
- Your coverage will start the first day of the month after you ask to join the plan.
In addition, if you are new to Medicare and enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare.
If you have questions about your Medicare, call ECKAAA and we will gladly help you review your options. (785) 242-7200.
Medicare
SHICK
Senior Health Insurance Counseling, is a free program that helps Kansas residents make informed decisions about Medicare and other health insurance. SHICK counselors are trained volunteers who are not affiliated with any insurance company.
What SHICK does:
- Helps people understand Medicare and other health insurance options.
- Helps people enroll in Medicare.
- Helps people compare Medicare plans.
- Helps people access prescription drugs at a reduced cost.
- Helps people stay informed about changes in health care insurance.
The SHICK program is funded by a grant from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Washington, D.C., and managed in Kansas by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) through agencies such as the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
Senior Medicare Patrol
Is a program that helps Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers prevent, detect, and report health care fraud.
What does the SMP do?
- Helps beneficiaries review Medicare Summary Notices for accuracy.
- Provides one-on-one counseling.
- Helps beneficiaries understand billing and other paperwork.
- Helps beneficiaries report fraud to the proper authorities.
- Helps educate the community on how to avoid scams.
When reporting a fraud, have the following information available:
- Your name as listed on your Medicare card
- Medicare number
- Name of provider
- Date of service
- Description of the concern or problem
Call Kansas SMP at 800-860-5260
SMPs are grant-funded projects of the federal U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA)
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act is a law that was passed in 2008 to improve Medicare access and affordability. MIPPA provides funding to help low-income beneficiaries learn about and apply for benefits that can save them money.
What MIPPA does:
- Improves access to benefits: MIPPA helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries learn about benefits like the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS/Extra Help) and the Medicare Savings Program (MSP).
- Improves access to care in rural areas: MIPPA helps maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access.
- Improves access to mental health services: MIPPA improves beneficiary access to mental health services.
- Improves access to preventive services: MIPPA improves beneficiary access to preventive services.
- Improves integration of Medicare and Medicaid benefits for dual eligible beneficiaries.
Medicare Fraud and Scam Protection
Know the Signs
Knowing the signs of identity theft is the first step in prevention. If it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is. Being aware that your activity matches your statements is also a great way to recognize potential identity theft.
Know your Cards.
Medicare cars much like social security cards are only paper. If you receive a plastic card, use caution as they can have serious consequences for the safety of your identity.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Additional Resources