SECURING YOUR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
WHAT SENIORS CAN DO OVER THE NEXT FIVE DAYS TO ENSURE
THEIR COVERAGE FOR THE NEXT NINE MONTHS

SHELTON, CONN. (March 27, 2009) – The open enrollment period for individuals who are enrolled in Medicare plans to make final changes to their 2009 benefits ends Tuesday, March 31. Seniors and their caregivers have five more days to take one more look, consider one more change before they can no longer switch to a new Medicare plan. The next opportunity to change will be in November for a January 1, 2010 effective date.

“By now, seniors should have had some experience with their current benefit packages, whether seeing physicians, filling prescriptions or finally reviewing the packet of information provided by their health insurers,” said Bill Stapleton, president and chief executive officer of Health Plan One, the parent company of MedicareSolutions, an online insurance brokerage and Medicare information portal. “Some may be surprised to find out that their physicians are no longer in their plans’ networks or that co-pays and other costs had gone up more than they had anticipated.”

Before April 1, Medicare recipients can make the following changes:

Individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage can disenroll back to original Medicare coverage and a separate prescription drug plan.
Individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan can change to another MAPD plan.
Individuals enrolled in original Medicare can enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Stapleton, whose company provides side-by-side comparisons of Medicare Advantage Plans through its Web sites www.healthplanone.com and www.medicaresolutions.com, recommends thoroughly reviewing your policy and making appropriate changes prior to the lock-in deadline.

However, there are situations in which seniors can make changes on or after April 1, 2009, including:

Lose employer-sponsored health benefits;
Move to another county or state;
Go into or come out of a nursing home;
Are diagnosed with a chronic illness or are deemed disabled after the lock-in period begins;
Enroll or disenroll from Medicaid; or
Meet certain income levels and qualify for government Medicare programs.

Securing Coverage – Page Two

“We have received a fair number of calls from seniors worried about how the economy may hurt their ability to access and pay for needed health care,” Stapleton, a 15-year veteran in the health insurance industry, said. “There are federal and state programs that seniors may be eligible for should their income reach a certain level. These safety nets help ensure that individuals do not sacrifice their health due an inability to pay.”

Low-income subsidies for Medicare prescription drug coverage are available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Additional assistance is available through other government programs to help offset the cost of monthly Part B premiums and other expenses. Seniors with annual incomes below $12,500 for individuals and $25,000 for couples are eligible for assistance. States also have programs to help seniors pay for the cost of health benefits including New York’s EPIC drug program, Connecticut’s ConnPACE program and Texas’ Texas Kidney Health Care program. For more information on these and other programs, visit http://www.medicaresolutions.com/state-medicare-information.asp.

MedicareSolutions’ customer service advocates also can help individuals determine if they are eligible for federal and state programs and help them apply for these funds by going to www.medicaresolutions.com or calling (800) 328-7305.

Founded in 2005, Health Plan One is a licensed health insurance agency and a leading online health insurance market, offering the broadest selection of health plans to individuals, families and Medicare recipients. Through its comprehensive Web sites, which include health plan comparison tools and extensive educational information, and its enhanced customer service model, individuals can purchase the best health plans to meet their health care coverage and affordability needs. For more information, visit www.healthplanone.com for individuals and families; and www.medicaresolutions.com for Medicare beneficiaries.

CONTACT:
Maria Gordon Shydlo
(914) 682-2172