Medicare and You Handbook 2019

THE OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT MEDICARE HANDBOOK

MEDICARE

& YOU

2019

You're getting a new Medicare card

We've been mailing new Medicare cards since April 2018.

Your new card has a Medicare Number that's unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number. We did this to protect your information and help prevent Medicare fraud.

When you get your new card:

? Destroy your old Medicare card. Make sure you destroy your old card so no one can get your personal information.

? Start using your new Medicare card right away! Your doctors, other health care providers, and facilities will ask for your new number, so carry your new card with you when you need care.

? Keep your other plan cards. If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) or a Medicare drug plan, keep using that Plan ID card whenever you need care or prescriptions. However, you should carry your new Medicare card too--you may be asked to show it.

? Protect your Medicare Number like you do your Social Security Number. Only give your new Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurer, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf.

Still waiting for your new card?

Your new Medicare card should have arrived in the mail by now. If you didn't get it, here's what to do next: ? Look around the house for any old or unopened mail. Your new Medicare card

will come in a plain white envelope from the Department of Health and Human Services. ? If you still can't find it, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. We may not have your correct address on file. Our call center representatives can help you check your address and fix it if needed. ? In the meantime, use your current Medicare card to get health care services.

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Get started

If you're new to Medicare:

? Learn about your Medicare choices. There are 2 different ways to get your Medicare coverage--see the next few pages to learn more.

? Find out how and when you can sign up. If you don't have Medicare Part A or Part B, see Section 1, which starts on page 15. If you don't have Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), see Section 6, which starts on page 73. There may be penalties if you don't sign up when you're first eligible.

? If you have other health insurance, see pages 20?21 to find out how it works with Medicare.

If you already have Medicare:

? You don't need to sign up for Medicare each year. However, you can review your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage and make changes each year.

? Mark your calendar with these important dates! This may be the only chance you have each year to make changes to your coverage.

October 1, 2018

Start comparing your coverage with other options. You may be able to save money. Visit find-a-plan.

October 15 to December 7, 2018

Change your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2019, if you decide to. This includes returning to Original Medicare or joining a Medicare Advantage Plan.

January 1, 2019

New coverage begins if you made a change. If you kept your existing coverage and your plan's costs or benefits changed, those changes will also start on this date.

January 1 to March 31, 2019

If you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can make one change to a different plan or switch back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request. See page 65.

Pages 4?8 provide an overview of your Medicare options.

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What are the parts of Medicare?

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Helps cover: ? Inpatient care in hospitals ? Skilled nursing facility care ? Hospice care ? Home health care See pages 25?28.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Helps cover: ? Services from doctors and other health care providers ? Outpatient care ? Home health care ? Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers,

hospital beds, and other equipment and supplies) ? Many preventive services (like screenings, shots, and yearly

"Wellness" visits) See pages 29?49.

Part D (Prescription drug coverage)

Helps cover: ? Cost of prescription drugs Part D plans are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare. See pages 73?82.

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Your Medicare options

When you first enroll in Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage. There are 2 main ways to get Medicare:

Original Medicare

? Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).

? If you want drug coverage, you can join a separate Part D plan.

? To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your deductible and 20% coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage.

Medicare Advantage

(also known as Part C)

? Medicare Advantage is an "all in one" alternative to Original Medicare. These "bundled" plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.

? Some plans may have lower outof-pocket costs than Original Medicare.

? Some plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover-- like vision, hearing, or dental.

Part A

Part B

You can add:

Part D

You can also add:

Supplemental coverage

(Some examples include coverage from a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, or coverage from a former employer or union.)

Part A

Part B

Most plans include:

Part D

Some plans also include:

Lower out-ofpocket costs Extra benefits

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