RESOURCE CENTER

THE RESOURCE CENTER

Program Manager: Sue • Caregiver Support Coordinator: Emily • Specialists: Joyce Intake Specialist: Nancy • Assistant Director: Rita For more information, please call 406-259-5212

RESOURCES CHANGES TO MEDICARE D AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS FOR 2022 We will have 22 prescription drug plans to choose from in 2022. We have no new plans, however six plans have changed their names and three plans are no longer available in 2022. The maximum deductible will be $480. Extra Help Low-Income Subsidy will continue to provide financial assistance to folks who meet the income and asset criteria. Full Extra Help has no deductible and copays will be $4.00 Generics/$9.85 Brand or less. Partial Extra Help will have a deductible of $99 and 15% copay. The Big Sky Rx Program, a state funded Prescription Drug Plan premium assistance program, is expected to set its maximum premium assistance at $38.90 for 2022. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU VERIFY THAT YOUR COVERAGE COVERS YOUR MEDICATION APPROPRIATELY IN 2022. CHANGES TO MEDICARE D PLANS IN 2022: PLAN NAME CHANGES: • Wellcare Med Rx Saver moved to one of the remaining Wellcare plans • Wellcare Med Rx Select moved to Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus • Wellcare Wellness moved to Wellcare Value Script • Elixir RxPlus now called Elixir RxSecure • Cigna Secure-Extra Rx now called Cigna Extra Rx • Cigna Secure- Essential Rx now called Cigna Essential Rx PLANS NO LONGER AVAILABLE – it appears these plans transferred to CIGNA plans- important to carefully review notification letter: • Express Scripts Medicare – Value • Express Scripts Medicare – Choice • Express Scripts Medicare - Saver CHANGES TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS: IN YELLOWSTONE COUNTY: We will have four Medicare Advantage companies; Humana, PacificSource, Blue Cross, and AARP UnitedHealthcare. Depending on the plan, they have a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) which create preferred networks of providers. It is important your doctors be part of the plan’s network. AARP UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross, Humana, and PacificSource all have a plan with a $0 premium. Blue Cross has a Medicare Advantage that has a plan with complete coverage without any copays or deductible at a much higher premium. Humana and UnitedHealthcare have special Medicare Advantages for folks with both Medicare and Medicaid/QMB. Lasso Healthcare and Exemplar Health Freedom will have Medicare Advantage MSA plan. Visit with your insurance agent to see which of these options are best for you. 26 DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022

Remember Annual Enrollment Period closes Dec 7th!!! ➥ 1-800 MEDICARE (1.800.633.4227) ➥ 24 hr per day/7 days a week phone counseling until 10 pm 12/7/21. ➥ If you know which plan you are enrolling into, you can call that plan’s non-member phone number

and they will enroll you over the phone.

MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM

If you are a low-income Medicare participant, this program can help pay the cost of your Medicare Part B insurance premium - money deducted from your Social Security check each month, and at some income levels even help pay the Medicare co-pays and deductibles.

To see if you qualify check the chart below:

ASSETS LIMITS

Savings, stocks, bonds, CD’s, cash value of life insurance policies, annuities, property other than your home, etc.

INCOME

Social Securityadd back the premium paid for Medicare Part B -and include pensions, interest income, annuities, etc.

SINGLE $7,970 No more than $1469 monthly COUPLE $11,960 No more than $1980 monthly

REMEMBER: Your primary residence (your home) and one automobile are not considered part of your assets. Qualifying for Medicare Savings program will automatically qualify you for Social Security Low-income Subsidy for Prescription Drug plans.

A PRIME CONNECTION – AN INFORMED FAMILY

The most loving gift a person can give to one’s family is to put your affairs in order to be prepared for an emergency. Today’s Caregiver complied the following list of information and documents you should have prepared. Once you have the documents and information assembled be sure you tell your family where these items can be found.

1. All bank accounts, account numbers, and types of accounts. Also include safety deposit box locations.

2. Insurance Company, policy number, beneficiary as stated on the policies and type of insurance (health, life, long-term care, automobile, etc.)

3. Deed and title to ALL property.

4. Loan/lien information, who holds them and if there are death provisions.

5. Social Security and Medicare numbers.

6. Military history, affiliations, and paper (including discharge papers).

7. Up-to-date will in a safe place (inform family where the will is located).

8. Living Will or other Advance Directives appropriate to your state of residence.

9. Durable Power of Attorney.

10. Instructions for funeral services and burial (if arrangements have been secured and location of funeral home).

The Resource Center will CLOSE Dec. 24th and Dec. 31st to celebrate the Holidays. We will close at 3:00 pm on Dec. 23rd and Dec. 30th.