Medicare Insurance Advisors

National Medicare Education Week is September 15-22

The number of people who are eligible for Medicare is skyrocketing. With more than 50 million Americans enrolled, it’s already our nation’s largest health insurance program – and as 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, one more person becomes eligible for Medicare every eight seconds.

Many of these boomers may find that choosing the right coverage can be a challenge. Medicare is not one-size-fits-all, and recent changes with health reform are adding to the confusion. In fact, earlier this year UnitedHealthcare conducted the Medicare Made Clear Index, a national survey of 1,000 people ages 60 and older. It found that although nearly 60 percent of Medicare beneficiaries describe their understanding of Medicare as either “excellent” or “good,” most could not correctly identify the health care expenses that Medicare Parts A, B, C and D cover.  Boomers ages 60-64 who are approaching Medicare eligibility and may be a caregiver for a parent or loved one who receives Medicare benefits, reported lower confidence in their Medicare knowledge, with nearly 7 in 10 saying they have a “fair” or “poor” understanding of the program.

That’s why we created National Medicare Education Week – to help baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers learn more about Medicare.

During this official week dedicated to Medicare education, UnitedHealthcare and proud National Medicare Education Week supporters – including AARP, Ameriprise Financial, the Caregiver Action Network, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), Target, Walgreens, Walmart and Sam’s Club – encourage people to become educated about their health care options.

National Medicare Education Week is Sept. 15-22 – exactly one month before the start of Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), when beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage. By taking the time to learn about Medicare now, you and your loved ones may feel better prepared to make choices during Open Enrollment.

Educational Events Across the Country – and online!

From Sept. 15-22, UnitedHealthcare will host dozens of educational events in select cities across the country to help make Medicare easier to understand. These events will teach beneficiaries about:

• The different types of Medicare coverage, and how to find coverage that best fits personal health needs and budgets
• How and when to enroll in Medicare, including tips for people who choose to delay enrolling in Medicare past age 65
• Recent changes to Medicare that could impact beneficiaries
• Online and community resources to help people learn more about Medicare
• Information for family and caregivers to help loved ones make important heath care coverage decisions

Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to have their Medicare questions answered by local representatives.

You can get information about events in your area by visiting NMEW.com. There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP.

If you can’t attend an event in person, you can participate virtually by viewing an educational presentation about Medicare at NMEW.com.

Everyone Can Participate

National Medicare Education Week is not just for Medicare beneficiaries. It’s a time for all Americans to think about their family and friends who are enrolled in Medicare, such as parents, grandparents and neighbors, and the role they can play in helping their loved ones with their health care decisions.

For more information, contact the Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048. If you have questions about Medicare Made Clear, call 1-877-619-5582, TTY 711, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

Resources:

NMEW.com: Get more information about National Medicare Education Week.

MedicareMadeClear.com: Learn about Medicare, initial enrollment and changing plans.

Medicare.gov: Visit the official U.S. government site for Medicare

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