We had an amazing webinar with the team from HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program), a local non-profit that helps families navigate the complexities of Medicare. While we were unable to record this session, here are our “Top 5 Takeaways!”
1. Know your Deadlines! Make sure you enroll on time. Signing up late can cause a delay in benefits and/or may lead to higher lifetime premiums. Contact HICAP or SHIP for help!
2. Enroll in Plan D even if you don’t take medications.
3. Download the Medicare manual. It’s free and available here.
4. Guard your Medicare card like a credit card. Medicare fraud continues to grow at a fast rate!
5. Know who your resources are. There many great resources out there. We like HICAP from the Council on Aging. They have been a trusted, nonprofit organization since 1973.
Resources:
HICAP (for California only)
Orange County: 714-560-0424
California: 800-434-0222
https://www.coasc.org/programs/hicap/
SHIP (for non-California residents)
Medicare
Medicare Manual: https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf
Medicare Costs at a Glance: https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/medicare-costs-at-a-glance
Medicare Enrollment: www.ssa.gov
