Health Insurance has definitely been a hot topic among senior citizens this past year. Those new Medicare Part D Prescription Plans have certainly created much chaos and confusion. And there seems to always be changes and new rules for Part A, Part B, the Medicare Supplements, EPIC and Medicaid. How can you possibly understand all these insurance matters and make sure that you are getting the right benefits for your health care situation? Who can you go to for help in dealing with problems with your insurance?

The Cayuga County Office for the Aging offers a free Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) which can help answer your specific questions or assist in troubleshooting problems with any government-sponsored benefits. Trained staff are available by phone or by appointment for office consultations. The program also has Medicare and other publications available upon request. One advantage of using this program is that you will be sure to get unbiased information to aid in your selection of appropriate benefits. Also, staff can assess your individual situation and make suggestions on how you can reduce your insurance costs.

In the next few months, be on the lookout for any mailings regarding insurance changes or new rules. One of the most important things to remember is DO NOT throw away any letter you may receive from Social Security, EPIC, Medicare, Medicaid or your Part D drug plan. If you have ANY questions regarding letters or applications you receive, call the Cayuga County Office for the Aging at 255-2629 and a counselor will be happy to answer your questions.

Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D Prescription Plans will be Nov. 15 through Dec. 31 for Drug Plans effective Jan. 1, 2007. Companies will be sending out letters to their beneficiaries to inform them of options to consider such as changing or renewing your existing prescription plan. If you are happy with your current plan, you will need to renew your plan for 2007. If you want to change your plan, our HIICAP counselors would like to make it clear that you do NOT have to contact your current Part D plan to disenroll. Enrollment in a new plan automatically triggers disenrollment from the first plan. Our counselors are available to assist in finding and enrolling you in a suitable plan.

In the next few months, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be mailing letters to those people who qualify for the Low-Income/Extra Help Subsidy. If your income meets the criteria, it pays the Part D monthly premium and lowers the cost of your drug co-payments. Some people who already have this extra help will be affected by changes in their qualifying status. If so, you will receive information from Social Security or CMS about what to do.

EPIC is New York state's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program for individuals age 65 and over. Our HIICAP counselors spend a lot of time assisting clients with EPIC questions and applications. Many seniors find that they can save more money on drug costs by using the Medicare drug benefit together with the EPIC plan. You should look into this option carefully as the savings depend largely on your income.

Certain EPIC enrollees may have received a Request For Additional Information form to assist in applying for the Medicare D Low Income Subsidy. If you received this form with bright yellow highlighting, it is essential that you complete it even if you do not want to enroll in a Part D plan. It is important to act on this to maintain your EPIC coverage.

The Cayuga County Office for the Aging HIICAP program can assist with navigating this complex health insurance “maze.” For more information on any of the mentioned insurance plans or to schedule an appointment to discuss specific questions, contact Sharon Arliss, HIICAP program coordinator, at 253-1226.

Janet Taylor is an aging services specialist with the Cayuga County Office for the Aging