On Sept. 14 at 10:15 a.m.., the League of Women Voters will host a “Medicare or Medicare Advantage?” event to help people – especially those around 65 years old – choose an insurance plan that best fits their needs.
“There are so many plans out there,” said Karen Sheek, the leader of Montezuma County’s LWV. “You’re bombarded with information once you turn 65.”
The event will be a panel discussion with an insurance agent and physicians, both retired and practicing, available to answer questions. It’ll take place in the County Annex building at 107 N. Chestnut St.
“We’re doing it now because open season begins in October,” Sheek said.
Open season is when people can change their insurance plans. It’s complex, so they’re hopeful a lot of people will go and get good information before October, Sheek said.
Medicare has been around since 1965. Medicare Advantage, on the other hand, started in 2003 when private health care companies came into the picture. The government pays the private companies, and they manage people’s care, Sheek said.
Under Medicare Advantage, subscribers are limited to a fairly narrow network of providers. If they go out of network, they’re forced to pay big bills.
It really all depends on personal health care needs: Medicare could work well for one person, and not for another. Same goes for Medicare Advantage. There are people on both sides, it’s just important to be informed, Sheek said.
To summarize, there’s major differences between the plans and there’s a narrow window once you turn 65 to decide on just one of them.
“Even if you’re not at the stage to sign up, maybe you have parents or grandparents or friends who’ll be turning 65 soon,” said Sheek. “The more education you have, the better decision you can make.”
