Medicare Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15
By Sara Duris It is time to review your Medicare coverage and compare your options. Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15 and runs through December 7, 2025. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP, formerly known as MMAP) offers trained and certified volunteer counselors to assist in looking at health insurance options. Area Agency on […]
Help may be available for heating bills; Check your Medicare drug coverage – Sara Duris – Oct. 12, 2024
Q. What is available to help people pay their heating bills? A. The State Emergency Relief (SER) program provides financial assistance to Michigan residents facing extreme hardship or emergencies that threaten health and safety. A part of this program is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which uses federal crisis assistance funds for […]
Social Security, Medicare drug plan and ways to prevent fraud – Sara Duris – Sept. 7, 2024
Q. Why are some people able to get Social Security income earlier than others? A: Generally, Social Security benefits are paid to eligible workers and their families, based on the worker’s earnings. This program, Retirement, Survivor and Disability Insurance benefits (RSDI) is what employment taxes fund. So, if an eligible worker becomes disabled, or someone […]
Take advantage of free Medicare counseling – Alexandra Newman – Sept. 23, 2023
When I started working at Area Agency on Aging earlier this year, I had very little knowledge about Medicare and Medicaid. I couldn’t even remember the difference between them until someone told me they remember it: We “care” for older adults and we “aid” those who need it. When I learned there was a free, […]
Prepare for Medicare coverage changes – Sara Duris – Sept. 2, 2023
Q. What is a Medicare Annual Notice of Change and why is it important? A: Usually in September every year, individuals with Medicare Advantage Plans or Part D Prescription Drug plans will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and Evidence of Coverage (EOC) notice. These contain information about any changes in coverage for the […]