SHINE Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

SHINE Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone on Medicare 3 Day Part D Counselor Training

Day 1 Topics § § § § Overview of SHINE Original Medicare (Part A & B) Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) Other Sources of Supplementing Medicare Part D Extra Help Prescription Advantage 2

Day 2 & 3 Topics Day 2 § Review of Medicare Basics (Day 1) § Review Extra Help § Review Prescription Advantage § Medicare Plan Finder Demo Day 3 § Medicare. gov website (hands-on training) 3

Certified SHINE Counselors n Explain Medicare Part A, B, C and D benefits and gaps n Compare health insurance and prescription drug plan options, costs and benefits n Screen for public benefit programs and provide assistance with the application process n Help with claims and billing problems n Start appeals and explain grievance procedures 4

SHINE Part D Enrollment Counselors § Assist beneficiaries by comparing the cost and benefits of the programs available to them. § Screen beneficiaries for Extra Help and Prescription Advantage § Provide enrollment assistance into these programs § Complete a client contact form after each appointment This training is designed to help you handle basic matters. 5

Medicare Parts A & B “Original Medicare” & Supplements (Part C and Medigaps)

Medicare Overview Medicare is a health insurance program for § People 65 years of age and older (not necessarily full retirement age) § People under age 65 with disabilities (deemed “disabled” by Social Security for at least 24 months) § People under age 65 and have ALS or ESRD Note: Medicare is NOT Medicaid (which is health insurance for very low income population) 7

Medicare Card § Each Medicare Claim Number is unique to a beneficiary § The Number is made up of a Social Security Number and Letter (not necessarily the beneficiary’s SSN) § Card lists effective dates for Part A and B § The information on this card helps counselors perform accurate drug plan searches 8

Original Medicare Parts & Premiums Part A – Hospital & Skilled Nursing Care (Premium free for most people) Part B – Doctors’ Visits & Outpatient Care (Monthly premium, may change annually – increased premium for those with income over $85, 000/year) 9

“Gaps” in Original Medicare Part A Part B § Hospital deductible § Daily co-pay for extended hospital stays (days 61 -90) § Daily co-pay for days 21 -100 in SNF § Annual deductible § 20% co-pay for most Part B services 10

Your Medicare Coverage Choices Start Step 1: Decide how you want to get your coverage ORIGINAL MEDICARE Part B Medical Insurance Part A Hospital Insurance OR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN (like an HMO or PPO) Part C Combines Part C A, Part B and usually Part D Step 2: Decide if you need a Prescription Drug Plan Part D Stand Alone PDP Step 3: Decide if you need to add supplemental medical coverage Medigap Supplement Core or Supplement 1 plan Part D Drug coverage is limited to plan offered by HMO or PPO. End If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage (MAPD), you cannot join another drug plan and you don’t need and cannot be sold a Medigap policy. HP 081111 End 11

Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigaps) n Sold by private insurance companies n People must be enrolled in Medicare Part A & Part B n Pays second to Medicare only after Medicare recognizes service as a “covered” service n All Massachusetts Medigap plans have continuous open enrollment throughout the year (not true in all states) n Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage n There are two types of Medigap policies currently sold in Massachusetts: Core and Supplement 1. Core pays for Medicare A + B co-pays and Supplement 1 pays A + B deductibles and co-pays. n Supplement 2 is a type of Medigap policy no longer sold. Supplement 2 is very expensive and includes prescription coverage. If you encounter someone with this policy please refer them to a SHINE Counselor. The most common Supplement 2 policy is called Medex Gold and was a BCBS product. 12

Medicare Advantage Plans (aka Medicare Part C, Medicare Health Plans) n Private insurance companies that contract with Medicare to provide coverage comparable to “Original” Medicare n Medicare Advantage Plans combine Medicare A, B, and Part D benefits into one plan. n Members must have Medicare Part A and B to enroll n Members must still pay Part B premium n Plans usually charge an additional premium & members pay co-pays when receiving services n Plans may additional benefits (e. g. routine physicals, eye glasses, hearing aids) n Plans typically use networks of physicians n Most common types of Medicare Advantage Plans are HMO’s and PPO’s 13

Types of Medicare Advantage Plans HMO - Health Maintenance Organization n With the exception of urgent or emergency care, members must receive all services within the plan’s network n Primary Care Physician required and referrals needed to see specialists n May only join the prescription coverage offered by the HMO plan PPO - Preferred Provider Organization n PPO’s have a defined network of providers with the option of seeing providers outside the network. Care sought out-of-network usually results in higher copays and deductibles. n May only join the prescription coverage offered by the PPO plan 14

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage Original Medicare + Medigap Supplement 1 Medicare Advantage Plan Higher monthly premium but no co-pays Generally lower premiums but has co-pays Freedom to choose doctors Generally restricted to network No referrals necessary May need referrals for specialists Some routine services not covered (vision, hearing) May include extra benefits (vision, hearing, fitness) Covered anywhere in US Only emergency or urgent services provided outside certain area 15

Annual Enrollment Period n Each year Medicare Advantage Plans may change • benefit structure • physician network • formulary • name • may leave the market or discontinue Members will be notified of plan changes by mail in the month of September. 16

Other ways to Supplement Medicare Beware of: n Retiree Health Plans (group plans) • Each retiree plan is different n Veterans Administration n Medicaid/Mass. Health (for very low-income) 17

Medicare and Mass. Health n n A beneficiary who has Medicare and Mass. Health is referred to as “Dual Eligible”. For hospital and medical services, Medicare always pays Primary and Mass. Health pays Secondary as long as the provider accepts Mass. Health. Dual eligibles who want drug coverage must get it through a Medicare Part D plan. Mass. Health will help pay for some medications not covered by Part D (i. e. OTC medications). Dual eligibles qualify for reduced Part D premiums, deductibles, and drug co-pays. 18

Medicare Part D

Overview of Medicare Part D § § Voluntary, but may be subject to penalty Provides outpatient prescription drugs People with Part A and/or Part B are eligible Coverage for Part D is provided by: • Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) also known as stand alone plans • Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDs) 20

Examples of Part D Excluded Drugs n Drugs for anorexia, weight loss or weight gain n Drugs for the symptomatic relief of cough and colds n Prescription vitamins and mineral products, except prenatal vitamins and fluoride preparations n n Non-prescription drugs (over the counter) Barbiturates (exception: Part D covers barbiturates used to treat epilepsy, cancers, and chronic mental health disorders) n Drugs used for Erectile Dysfunction (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) n Drugs that could be covered under Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B 21

Not all Part D Plans are made equal! n PDPs and MA-PDs may vary based on: • • Benefit Design Monthly Premium Deductible Co-payments Formulary Drug Prices Drug Restrictions Pharmacy Network 22

2013 Medicare Part D Basic Structure 23

ACA is Closing the Donut Hole! n Each year, the co-payment percentage for generics and brand names will decrease. n By 2020, these percentages will match those in the Initial Coverage Period and the donut hole will be eliminated. 24

How to Enroll Into Medicare Part D n n Review plan options • Plan Finder Tool on Medicare Website www. medicare. gov • Determine PDP plan vs. MA-PD plan • Consider cost, coverage, quality, and convenience • Be aware of preferred pharmacies • Avoid drug restrictions n Step Therapy - May require member try an alternative med first n Prior Authorizations - Requires doctor’s approval n Quantity Limitations - Limits how much medication can be dispensed to a patient within a specific time period. Contact plan directly or call 1 -800 -Medicare • Enrollment can take place on the phone, online, or through a mailed in paper application. 25

Annual Election Period “Open Enrollment” § October 15 th – December 7 th. All changes are effective January 1 st. § Every plan changes from year to year: they change premiums, co-pays, formulary, or can end their contract with Medicare § If an individual elects not to do anything then they will remain in that plan for the following year 26

Late Enrollment Penalty If an individual does not enroll when first eligible for Part D, they may pay a penalty if they: § Have no coverage or have coverage that is not “creditable” § Have a lapse in coverage (63 days or more) Penalty is charged once an individual enrolls in a Part D plan § 1% of the benchmark premium* for each month an individual went without creditable coverage since becoming eligible for Medicare, losing creditable coverage or May 2006, whichever is later. § Penalty is for life. § National Benchmark premium for 2013 is $31. 17 Late enrollees may enroll during: § AEP (for coverage effective Jan 1) § Special Enrollment Period (SEP), if they are eligible. (There are many SEPs, please refer to your PDP/MA-PD Special Enrollment Period Chart) 27

Late Enrollment Penalty Example John enrolled in Original Medicare when he turned 65 but did not pick up Part D because he was not taking medication at the time. He is now 70 and enrolls in a Part D plan during open enrollment because his doctor prescribed him 2 medications. Upon enrolling in his Part D plan he was notified of the Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) he must pay for failing to sign up when he was first eligible. n n n 5 years without coverage = 60 months 1% of 2013 benchmark $31. 17 =. 31 60 months x. 31 = $18. 60 Monthly LEP John is responsible to pay the LEP every month in addition to his regular Part D premium. This penalty increases slightly each year with the increase in the benchmark premium. 28

Creditable Coverage n Prescription drug coverage as good or better than standard Part D n All Medicare beneficiaries (including those who are still working) must have creditable coverage to avoid a late enrollment penalty n Benefits administrator has information about whether the coverage is creditable n Beneficiaries should be encouraged to ask the benefits administrator if they have not been notified about creditable coverage status n Examples of creditable coverage include: Veterans, COBRA, and most Employer Group Health Plans. 29

Extra Help / Limited Income Subsidy & Prescription Advantage

Savings Programs Can Help! Decide how you want to get your coverage and apply for assistance ORIGINAL MEDICARE Part A Hospital Insurance OR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN Part B Medical Insurance (like an HMO or PPO) Part C Combines Part C A, Part B and usually Part D Step 2: Decide if you need a Prescription Drug Plan Part D Drug coverage is limited to plan offered by HMO or PPO. Part D Stand Alone PDP EXTRA HELP & PRESCRIPTION ADVANTAGE Work With Stand Alone Plans AND Drug Coverage offered with a Medicare Advantage. HP 081111 31

Extra Help/Low Income Subsidy (LIS) n Extra Help is a federal assistance program to help low-income and low-asset Medicare beneficiaries with costs related to Medicare Part D. n Extra Help subsidizes: • • • Premiums Deductibles Copayments Coverage Gap “Donut Hole” Late Enrollment Penalty Does not subsidize non-formulary or excluded medications n Apply through Social Security Administration n Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for Mass. Health will receive Full Extra Help automatically. 32

Levels of Extra Help (LIS) n n Full Extra Help If income below 135% FPL AND resources (assets) below $8, 580 (individual) and $13, 620 (couple) • Full premium assistance with no deductible • Low, capped co-payments Partial Extra Help If income below 150% FPL AND resources (assets) below $13, 300 (individual) and $26, 580 (couple) • Reduced premiums (sliding scale – between 25% -75% assistance dependent upon income) • Reduced deductible and 15% copayments 33

Extra Help (LIS) Eligibility n n Resources counted: • • • Bank accounts (checking, savings, CDs) Stock, bonds, savings bonds, mutual funds, IRAs Real estate other than a primary home Resources not counted: • • • Primary home, car Property one needs for self-support, such as a rental property Burial spaces owned by a beneficiary Personal belongings Life Insurance Policies 34

Applying for Extra Help (LIS) n To apply: • Complete an application online • • www. ssa. gov/extrahelp Call SSA at 1 -800 -772 -1213 to complete an application over the phone Visit a local SSA office 35

Prescription Advantage n Massachusetts’ State Pharmacy Assistance Program (SPAP) n Provides secondary coverage for those with Medicare or other “creditable” drug coverage (i. e. retiree plan) n Benefits are based on a sliding income scale only – no asset limit! n Different income limits for under 65 vs. 65 and over 36

Applying for Prescription Advantage n To apply: • Call Prescription Advantage at 1 -800 -243 -4636 • and Press 2 to complete an application over the phone Member can complete a paper application available at your counseling site. 37

Prescription Advantage for those with Medicare or “Creditable Plan” n Helps pay for drugs in the gap (for most members) n Those with higher incomes may have to pay a $200 annual fee for limited benefits n To receive co-pay assistance, all medications must be covered by the primary drug plan n Members are provided a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) (one extra time each year outside of open enrollment to enroll or switch plans) n Prescription Advantage does not pay Part D late enrollment penalty 38

Part D Counselor Training Day 2: Review Questions § § § § What is Medicare Part D and how is it offered? Who is eligible? What is creditable coverage? How is the late enrollment penalty calculated? When is the Annual Election “Open Enrollment” Period? When does the coverage gap or “donut hole” begin? What programs are available to reduce drug costs? 39

Case Study 1 Phil Harmonic comes to see you in October because he needs help reviewing his drug plan for 2014. He tells you he enrolled in a Medicare Part D Plan when he turned 65. He currently takes generic medications and is in a low premium plan; however, his doctor recently informed him that he will be starting a brand name medication in January. Phil is worried that he may enter the donut hole in with this new medication but he’s not sure. He tells you he is single and has a gross monthly income of $1, 300. He also has $5, 000 in a checking account and owns a life insurance policy. n n What information will you need to assist Phil with a drug plan search? When is Phil able to change his drug plan? What would you tell Phil about the donut hole? What subsidy programs may Phil qualify for and how would he apply? 40

Case Study 2 Bart Ender Bart comes to see you during Medicare Open Enrollment. He is 70 years old, has Original Medicare, a Part D plan and tells you he just got a letter from Social Security informing him he’s been approved for Extra Help. Bart explains that he has been paying very high copays for several of his brand name medications this year and a friend of his helped him apply for Extra Help on the Social Security website. He mentions to you that he enrolled into Medicare Part D late and has also been paying a penalty. He wants to know how this Extra Help program will lower his costs. n n n How could you figure out what level of Extra Help Bart has? How would Extra Help reduce his drug costs? Would Extra Help pay his Late Enrollment Penalty? Now that Bart has Extra Help, how often can he change his Part D plan? How else would you assist Bart? 41

Case Study 3 Pat E. Cake meets with you on November 20 th. She says she belongs to a Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO). She tells you the prescription drug plan built into her Medicare Advantage plan costs more than she wants to pay, so she has decided to enroll in a Part D plan the offered to her by the agent she met at CVS. n n n What will happen if Pat enrolls in this Part D plan? If Pat wants to explore other Medicare coverage options how would you help her? If Pat makes a change to her coverage now, when will the change take effect? 42

Case Study 4 Lucy and Ricky come into the SHINE office on December 1, 2013. They want to know if there is still time to review their drug plan options for next year. They both have Medicare, a Medigap Supplement 1 Plan and a Part D plan. Ricky explains that Lucy was supposed to make an appointment to see the SHINE counselor weeks ago but forgot. In fact, she has been forgetting so much that the doctor has put her on a new brand name medication which is starting to help. Ricky explains that the only issue now is that the medication is very expensive. The couple’s monthly income is $3, 700/month and they have $50, 000 in assets. Lucy also wants to know why her new over the counter supplement “Vitameatavegamin” is not covered by Medicare Part D. n n Why should Lucy and Ricky review their drug plan for 2014? Do they still have time to make a change? Would they qualify for any assistance programs? Should Lucy’s OTC medication be covered? 43