Medicare Checkup Day is Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Champaign County Senior Center.
The Ohio SeniorHealth Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) will hold the event starting at 11:30 a.m. at the center, 701 S. Walnut St., Urbana. Events like this are being held through the Medicare open enrollment period, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
“Our statewide efforts have begun and we are excited to help Ohioans as they make important decisions about their Medicare coverage,” said state Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, also director of the Ohio Department of Insurance. OSHIIP is a division of the Ohio Department of Insurance.
OSHIIP is the state’s official free educational resource for Medicare information and enrollment assistance. Last year, OSHIIP saved more than 193,000 Ohioans a record of $18 million, including $9.8 million during the annual open enrollment period, according to a news release.
During Medicare open enrollment, Ohioans can choose Original Medicare paired with a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan and possibly a Medicare Supplement plan; or a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits including drug coverage; or determine if their existing coverage will meet their health insurance needs for the upcoming year.
Attendees can learn more about recent Medicare changes, such as new deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance amounts and financial assistance programs, which include help with prescription costs and Part B premium savings. The non-profit Pro Seniors and its fraud-fighting Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) will be at Check-up Day events to encourage people on Medicare to protect their Medicare card and explain how to detect fraudulent behavior and report issues to the SMP.
Ohioans should be aware of predatory sales practices during open enrollment. Insurance agents are prohibited from using high-pressure sales tactics, conducting door-to-door sales or presenting themselves as Medicare representatives. Those who suspect wrongdoing or have been victimized are asked to call the department’s Fraud and Enforcement hotline at 800-686-1527 or the SMP at 800-488-6070.
Those unable to attend this Medicare Check-up Day event and have enrollment questions or need financial assistance may call OSHIIP at 800-686-1578 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) at any time. Information, including specific plan details, is available at www.medicare.gov.
To view a complete listing of Medicare Check-up Day events, visit OSHIIP’s Medicare Check-Up and Annual Enrollment Toolkit page at www.insurance.ohio.gov/Consumer/Pages/MedicareToolkit.aspx. The toolkit includes a link to a Medicare Plan Finder, financial assistance information and more helpful tips. For more information, visit www.insurance.ohio.gov or follow OSHIIP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OSHIIP.
