>> I'm glad you're with us tonight on LIFE Ahead.

I'm Sandy Thomson and if you listen to me last week I told you that coming up we would have two shows in a row to talk about Medicare.

We do this at this time of the year every year and we have a professional here that will answer any questions that you might have.

So we'll show you that phone number periodically in the next half hour and you can give us a call now most of you have probably already gotten your Medicare book for I really have trouble saying this and already for two thousand twenty two hard to imagine that this year is so close of being over but it's time that you really have to know what's going on if you have Medicare questions, let me introduce you to Greg MacDonald.

>> Greg, nice to have you with us again.

Well, thanks, Nancy.

>> Great to be back.

You know, we were just talking right before the show started that Greg has been coming to times in a row every year since 2013 2013.

>> As we were saying, I cannot believe it's another year has passed.

I know.

But it's a good thing you come back because every year there are some sort of there's some sort of a change or something that people really need to know about.

>> Yes.

And particularly when it comes to prescription drug plans and advantage plans we find changes there every year.

>> So it's a good thing to review.

All right.

All right.

Again, if you received this recently you might grab it and and have a handy if you have any questions concerning Medicare, they might have answers in here or if not, Greg's got the answers right.

>> Greg, let's start by talking about Medicare.

>> Who is eligible for Medicare and some people want to sign up early.

Some people want to wait.

What's the difference and why?

>> Well, keep in mind Medicare is for people over the age of 60 five generally.

>> So if they enroll in Social Security at 62 they still can't get Medicare for 65 or older unless they have are getting Social Security disability and after two years of Social Security disability they're eligible for Medicare.

>> OK, all right.

>> That kind of narrows it down.

Enrollment begins October 15th and that's how long it goes until December 7th.

>> December 7th.

OK, between October 15th and December 7th is this like enrollment for new people or is it a time to make changes?

It's.

Well, this is a time to make changes, OK?

When people move into Medicare for the first time they have an enrollment period that typically starts three months before your birth month and then your birth month and then three months afterwards.

That's called your initial enrollment period.

>> Then at the end of every year this October 15th through December 7th for prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, it's the time to evaluate them to see if it's still going to be a good fit for next year and the time to change.

>> Aha.

All right.

Well let's let's ask this how do you know if you need to make some changes?

>> Greg, the first place to start is your drug list a drug plan?

>> Yeah.

because generally when people come and talk with me first thing I ask them is let me see your prescription list because that sets up what plan are best suited for you depending on your on the type of medications you have which could change from year to year.

>> Well, they do but not only do your medications change but the plan can change as well because plans have a setup where they have their list of drugs that they cover and then they have what they call a tiering of each drugs like Tier one or two Tier three.

>> So that's a pricing structure and generally the lower the tier the lower the price and those drugs can bounce back and forth between tiers.

Just because a drug is generic doesn't necessarily mean it's a tier one or tier two on one particular plan.

It could be a three or four on one plan.

It could be a one or two one another.

That's why you should check it.

>> And you know, I got caught on that one time, Greg, so I'll vouch for the importance of knowing what's going on.

Yeah, a prescription that I had been taking for a long period of time move to a different tier but I didn't notice it and you know, in the information I didn't think to look because it had always been the same and and then when I got the prescription in the mail and got the invoice, I was surprised startled let's face it.

Yeah, Medicare can be a pain.

Yeah.

OK, when you're on it it can be it's a hassle once usually when people come in.

>> All right.

I got done I'm done with this thing right but not forever but not forever and particularly when it comes to the prescriptions it makes a difference.

I'll give you a case in point.

Last week I had a couple come in to see me.

I did not know these folks.

They had signed up for a drug plan in 2008.

They had never changed it.

Yeah.

And what they didn't come in specifically for that.

But after we got done talking I asked them let me see your drug list.

And so we went through it made the plan that they had had started out probably around thirty dollars as I recall and it was an expensive plan back then.

It has since escalated to ninety two and as we looked at the cost of their drugs when we went through it we found that we could on each of them we could move them down to a plan that was twenty two dollars.

>> All their drugs were covered and they would save about six hundred dollars each for the year.

>> Wow.

On that each person each person 600 hundred that substantial substantial I had another one of my clients called today and I encourage them to get this list because I said I can see the spread between what you have now and what the the plan that would minimize your cost was about a thousand dollars.

>> Yeah.

So I encourage everyone out there evaluate your prescription plan whether that's in a standalone drug plan or in an advantage plan.

>> It's certainly worth your while.

Oh, all right.

>> Good good advice certainly I'm curious right now you probably seeing as I do a lot of commercials on TV about Medicare and they have celebrity and of course every celebrity celebrity is trustworthy.

They have at least that's the impression I want to give.

>> That's like if this famous person says this then I better sign up for this too.

But they're like endorsing something or they're suggesting if you call this one 800 number now you might get free eyeglasses or free dental care or or whatever.

>> Is that a farce or what how do you really interpret that?

>> It is a solicitation to call a an online company that will sell insurance company an insurance company for advantage plans.

>> I know the Joe Namath commercial is really the name.

>> Yeah, he actually does a good job.

Joe does a great job.

Here's the thing he says on these one of those is you can have your part B premium paid back.

>> Well, yes, in certain circumstance chances if a person is on Medicaid which means they're low income, they're getting help from a state yes they can have part or all of their part B premium paid by the state.

So there are plans for that.

There are also areas in the country in Florida is one where companies will pay back a good portion of the part B premium.

>> So is he being false in that?

No, it's just in our area we really don't have access to anything that does that above beyond I think there's one out there right now that will pay back fifty dollars.

But that plan has no prescription drugs and it isn't really a super plan when you look at other plans that are that don't have the the payback right on that.

And when you talk about the other benefits that are out there dental vision hearing advantage plans do offer those.

>> Sure it'll be I mean you will be paying additional for plans that have do not necessarily no, not necessarily.

>> You can still have zero premium plans that include that .

>> But keep in mind those are generally preventative in nature when it comes to the like they might allow one visit one well they will do a couple cleanings on the dental.

>> They will do a routine eye exam for that and they'll have some of them have a glasses allowance.

>> They'll pay something toward glasses.

Gym memberships are included in many of yes.

So those are there but those are benefits that are not covered by original Medicare which is the advantage of advantage plans in many cases of having an advantage.

Exactly.

Exactly because Medicare doesn't cover every possible thing.

>> Obviously it would be hard to because everybody has different issues.

>> But again, there are a lot of plans provided that you can pick and choose what you might need.

Danny just called Greg.

Let's see what Danny has to ask you.

>> He said he's sixty five and he's still working and enrolled in a company company Health care plan as well as the health savings.

>> Does this health savings account does he need to apply for Medicare A or B or none at all?

>> What would you say to Danny ?

>> Danny, that's a great question because typically with most health plans you could sign up for part A there's no charge for it and then delay part B where there is a premium for it when when it comes to health savings account if you want to maintain that plan, do not sign up for Medicare at all because as soon as you get part A you're no longer eligible to make contributions to your health savings account plan.

>> And when you get close to retirement quit making contributions for about six months prior to that retirement because Medicare will look back and you're not going to get a tax deduction for that contribution for those six months.

>> So keep that in mind when you get ready to retire, OK?

All right.

That's good recommendation for Danny and back to Joe Namath I guess what we could kind of assume with a lot of those ads is make sure you're hearing everything clearly.

>> Don't just automatically call and enroll the phone number they give.

They lead you to believe you're calling Medicare but you're not you know you're turning up you're calling an insurance company.

>> Yeah, And so it is a solicitation for you to get in there.

Sure can.

>> As I said, there are places and certain economic circumstances when you can get one hundred and forty four dollars paid back on your part B so it just keeps in your Social Security check.

>> But again in our area unless you're on Medicaid that that's not going to happen.

So the ad is national.

>> All right.

So it's broad enough it's it is legit in certain areas I sell in Florida I have a place in St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg there is a plan that will pay back one hundred and forty four dollars in your part be OK. >> We don't have that in Indiana so that could be a little misleading if well along with a question that Susan has and Susan just called in she's on Facebook ads for one hundred forty four dollars back on Social Security checks and fill out this survey what's the one hundred and forty four dollars for and is it legit?

I know you've sort of answered that, but what else can you say to Susan here, Susan?

I'm not sure exactly what they're looking at there.

I'm assuming that they're talking about the part B pay back what they're doing outside of it.

I cannot tell you is that a legit survey and is a legit payback?

I don't know.

I just know that if they're talking about the part B portion of it right here in Indiana, we do not have that available to us.

>> You know, I'll have to go back to recommendations that Better Business Bureau who's been on life I had several times always of being extremely careful when you fill out Facebook surveys or something like that because you're giving them personal information.

>> Yeah.

That then is in the cloud available to anybody it wants it.

>> So be careful as we've seen recently any anything that you put out there seems to be able to be accessed by somebody if they want it, if they want it, if somebody does and yeah, they're motivated they seem to be able to find it.

>> Exactly.

Exactly.

So be careful, Susan, about answering or calling about that and especially given what Greg has just said that we don't have that in Indiana anyway.

OK, talk about change your well, one of the things that I wanted to to bring up when it comes to prescription drug plans, there are some significant changes for twenty twenty two.

>> One of them for example.

>> First off, the deductibles change the thresholds the coverage gap changes.

>> I mean all those changed that's normal.

Some of the plans are changing though.

For example well care well care has traditionally offered three different plans excuse me six different plans the last several years.

Three of those plans are going away.

If you happen to have the value script plan the classic plan and the value plus plan those plans will remain are still good and in fact the value script plan is actually going to go down in price.

>> But if you have the other three plans those are going to go away.

>> They will be merged into the three that are remaining and unless you have the well care wellness plan, your premiums going to go up.

The wellness is actually being going into the value script plan so the premium will go down in that case.

But the rest of them are going to go up so check it out to make sure the plan still works for you.

Another significant change Express Scripts which is a popular plan in our area.

>> Yeah, that one is going away too.

>> Yeah.

There yeah I got caught up on that too because I had been using Express Scripts and then it went away and you had to make a choice.

>> Do I go to a pharmacy or do I sign up for a different mail order company.

>> Right.

Well it's going when it comes to Express Scripts they're part D plans are now going to Cigna .

Oh really?

Yeah.

So if you have an Express Scripts plan, it's the plan isn't going to go away but you're going to have a signal plan instead.

OK, so you definitely want to check out to see how that's going to in fact you would have to apply for Cigna now you don't have to apply it's automatic.

>> It'll automatically go into it but how does that change your coverage?

>> Because if that's the thing that you want to check out to make sure that it's still still a good fit for you.

>> Exactly.

>> Another phone call.

You're a popular man tonight, Greg.

Everybody has questions and rightly so.

It's this time of the year that you need to get them answered.

I'm sorry about the coughing.

I shouldn't eat in the popcorn right before we I was lucky here at PBS we have a popcorn machine, an official big one.

>> It is a big one in the theaters.

Yeah, exactly like OK here's what she said she would like you to elaborate on the penalty one has to pay for the rest of their life if they don't sign up for Medicare when it's offered and did not sign up right away and years later she is now stuck with paying a penalty.

>> How that does that happen often?

>> Yes, unfortunately it does so Medicare instituted what they call this late enrollment penalty if you do not sign up when you're eligible or when you transition onto Medicare.

>> Yeah, they enforced this penalty and what it is they start counting the number of months that you could have had a drug plan and didn't I say and they add it up so let's just say all right, it's October right now and so you don't you just turn sixty five.

You don't sign up for it.

You're not taking anything.

Why sign up?

So we go these three months and then let's just say in June and next year you start collecting some prescription drugs and you think OK, next year I better get a drug plan.

>> Well Medicare is going to look at the three months this year you didn't have it.

>> They're going to look at the twelve months next year that you didn't have it.

That's fifteen months and then they're going to say OK, they take the average cost of a drug plan nationally which next year is going to be thirty three dollars.

>> So that's that's it.

I mean that's what you would say if you were in California Nevada right.

>> They take now so in other words they take the national average OK and they say all right, one percent of the national average is thirty three cents ok OK so they would take fifteen times thirty three cents for the fifteen months.

>> Right and then tack that on to your drug plan premium.

The bad thing about that it's permanent.

>> I mean you're going to have a 15 percent penalty the rest of your life as long as you have a really yes.

>> Oh poor and yes so and so here and here's what I suggest and I have people who come into this on occasion.

>> Look what other alternatives are available to you.

Take a look at programs like Go Torex can how much would your prescription costs on that plan ?

Look at Canadian pharmacies.

You know they are out there see what those with the prescriptions would cost through there and then assess whether it makes sense to continue to have a drug plan and pay the penalty or not.

>> I will tell you that if for some high income earners because they not only charge in excess Part B premium, they charge an excess Part D premium as well.

So for the top income group they're paying seventy seven dollars a month above and the on the cost of the prescription plan well if you're not taking any drugs or very few it may make sense not to take it at all and pay the penalty if you ever get to the point where you need it just is that taken out of your Social Security check?

>> It is OK if you're taking it.

Yes, they'll take a come out on Social Security so so I mean Ann mentioned she's got the penalty now but I mean some people may not even notice when they get their Social Security statement or a check.

>> That's true if it's an automatic deposit and something else they may not notice they're paying.

>> They don't and a lot of times because of that the couple that I mentioned earlier ninety two dollars it creeped up there was to being taken out of Social Security.

>> They didn't really notice it.

Mm hmm.

So pay attention.

>> Pay attention.

Joe has just called in.

Here's a question he would like to know what you know about Humana and Joe also saw on the news that there is a five percent increase in Social Security.

>> This is true.

Well, let's talk about the social Security.

I haven't seen that yet.

I know that the projects haven't either.

I haven't seen that yet.

I know the projection for the Social Security increase for next year was going to be between five point five and six point three percent.

OK, if that was the the guesstimate of what it would be.

>> So if you're seeing five percent yeah.

That could be very realistic.

Now keep in mind Social Security goes up the part B premium is going to go up.

>> The good news is by law they can't take more than what they just gave you.

>> But I'm sure they're going to get they're going to take a chance that you may not really get them when you start looking at it.

>> Yeah, it may not get that total five percent.

>> And as far about Humana, Humana is one of the largest companies when it comes to advantage plans United Health Care, Humana, Aetna and Anthem those are the big four when it comes to that.

If you want more information on that particular company, you can call one of the reps you can call me whatever you want.

>> Be happy to discuss that off the show, OK?

All right.

Good advice there and good reason to make sure you ask all the questions and oh goodness we have another call coming in already.

This is from Jane by the way and let's see if the whole question Lynnette Jean is 90 years old.

>> Thank you for watching us here on LIFE Ahead Gene and he has been on Medicare for twenty five years.

>> Does he need to do anything else?

>> Gene, if you've made it since for that long, you're probably good good for you.

Good job at this point unless there's something that comes up that you just see that you need no what if his medications have changed?

>> Well, that would be the thing.

I mean Medicare itself if you've navigated that fine.

Could you get one hundred advantage plan?

Sure.

Could you pick up a supplement?

Yes.

Those are all options and I should say if you get a supplement it'll be underwritten at this point so it may not be a guaranteed deal but if it's working for you, Gene and you're fine with it.

>> Yeah, just if it's not good for you don't what is it if it's not if it if it ain't broke don't fix it.

>> Go.

>> Thank you.

Thank you so much for watching all of you.

And now we still have time for a few more phone calls if you'd want to get your phone right now.

>> And by the way, I do want to mention that Greg's going to be right back here in this seat next Wednesday night at seven thirty for part two of our Medicon discussion.

So if you happen to think of something else that you'd like to know about or if you get your book out, something doesn't make sense to you.

You'll have that chance next Wednesday night to give us a call and get Greg's advice as well.

>> OK, Greg, I'm curious about covid and Teller Mad Dollar medicine is that I noticed that in the book people talk about covid right.

>> How has that affected Medicare really all the Medicare services I should say Medicare Medicare's picking up the covid services.

>> OK, OK so you mean the treatment or what?

Well if you're on Medicare OK yeah it covers the treatment.

There's no charge for exams.

>> There's no charge for the shots.

The booster's is that's who's paying for the back vaccinations government.

>> Yeah.

All right so Medicare is paying for that but what about people that don't have Medicare yet their insurance companies, their insurance companies.

>> OK, all right.

You think that's going to be the case with boosters and things like that going to yes.

>> What about telemedicine?

>> Those are included no charge.

OK, so if you have a zoom call with your physician but obviously you're still to need to pay something but you'd be paying your well here's the thing right now there's no charge for those services, OK?

>> Because there's a national emergency when it comes to covid, OK, could that change in the future?

>> Yeah.

Yeah, But right now there's no charge.

>> OK, all right.

So there are some good things that are coming out of this.

Well our half hour is going so fast but again just remember to watch this next Wednesday night at seven thirty when Greg will be here to answer your phone calls.

>> That's right here on PBS for Wayne and through the weekend this show that we've just had here live will air three more times.

You can check your TV listings to find out when those are and maybe go back and review some of that advice.

>> Greg, thank you so much.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

You're a busy man taking care of people in Florida in Indiana and is that all do you have more?

>> I have multiple states but most of my focus is right here in Fort Wayne .

Thank you for that.

All right.

We'll see you guys all all you viewers next week at seven thirty.

>> Good night