Oconto County Commission on Aging’s Blog

(From P. Nugent of Southeastern Wisconsin AAA)

Before there was Medicare Part D, the fact that 70% of seniors
had never used internet was a shame. Three years later, with minimal
improvement, the reality that 65% of Medicare beneficiaries do not have
access to the computer tool required to pick a sound drug plan is a true
disadvantage. Advocates, case managers, senior center directors, or others
with a passion to empower the elderly, we have a free tool to help!

The Wisconsin State Health Insurance and Assistance Program has
teamed up with the non-profit agency Generations on LineR for a unique
opportunity to help Wisconsin Medicare beneficiaries during this Annual
Coordinated Election Period. Generations on Line has created and maintained
a special website to get folks “3 clicks away” from the Medicare Drug Plan
Finder Tool. Better yet, a SHIP counselor at the Southeastern Wisconsin
Area Agency on Aging has teamed with the experts at GoL to create the
attached “Slide by Slide to Part D Guide” in pdf format. You are welcome to
reproduce or disseminate this resource as widely as you like as part of
Wisconsin Seniors Online for Medicare Enterprise (WI-SOME). The web link
to be used in conjunction with the guide is www.golmedicare.org
<http://www.golmedicare.org/> .

Together, we can discover:

Why SOME facilities serving seniors can help them help themselves.

Why SOME seniors who never thought they needed the Internet may learn its
value.

Why SOME professionals who were faced more calls for help than they could
handle were able to share this resource to better meet this need.

Why SOME seniors where able to find their own alternatives to Part D Plans
with drastic price increases or formulary changes.

Did you know: Beneficiaries on a free-standing Part D Plan have
greater need to reevaluate things for 2009, given some steep increases in
premiums and some reductions in coverage in the gap. Twelve plans have
premium hikes more than $10, while the least expensive plan is $13.70.

Some of the most needy people on Medicare, those who qualify for the Low
Income Subsidy (or Extra Help), could face surprises if they don’t watch
their mail closely and know the changes ahead. More of them are facing
re-assignment into different plans for next year than ever before,
especially because two of the larger subsidized drug plans for 2008 will not
qualify as fully covered plans in 2009.