Nov. 08 Marci's Medicare Answers

Dear Marci, My father is very ill, and his doctor says he is eligible for Medicare-covered hospice care because he has less than six months to live. How long will Medicare cover this service? Natalie Dear Natalie, Your father can get hospice care for as long as his doctor and the medical director or physician employed by a Medicare-certified hospice agency certify that he is terminally ill (has fewer than six months to live). Even if he lives past the six months, he can continue to get hospice care as long as his doctor and the hospice's medical director or physician recertify that he is terminally ill. Marci Dear Marci, I have been trying for years to quit smoking, but I have not been successful. A friend told me that he quit by attending hypnosis sessions. Will Medicare pay for these sessions? Shaun Dear Shaun, Medicare will not pay for hypnosis sessions to help you quit smoking. Medicare will, however, pay for one initial evaluation and up to eight counseling sessions in a 12-month period to help you quit smoking if you receive services from a qualified Medicare-certified provider and (1) you are taking a prescription drug that interacts with tobacco; or (2) you have a disease or condition that is caused by smoking (such as cancer, cardiovascular disease or pneumonia). Marci Dear Marci, I am unhappy with my current Medicare private health plan because it does not cover my medicines. When I tried to change plans, I was told that I could not change until November 15th. Why is this? Idina Dear Idina, You are generally limited in when you can change your Medicare health and drug coverage during the year (this is known as lock-in). All people with Medicare can make any change to their health or drug coverage from November 15 through December 31 (a period known as the Annual Coordinated Election Period). During this time you can change to another Medicare private health plan or to Original Medicare, and add, drop or change Medicare drug coverage (Part D). Your new coverage starts January 1. From January 1 to March 31 (the "Open Enrollment Period"), you can change your choice of Medicare health coverage, but not add or drop Medicare drug coverage. During that period you could potentially change your choice of drug coverage through a health plan switch. (In some circumstances, for example, if you were to move out of your plan's coverage area, you would get a Special Enrollment to enroll in a new health or drug plan outside of annual enrollment periods.) To switch plans, you should enroll in your new plan without disenrolling from your old plan. Enroll early during an enrollment period to make sure that your new coverage starts when it should. It is best to enroll in your new plan by calling 800-MEDICARE, rather than through the plan itself. You will be automatically disenrolled from your old plan when your new coverage starts. If you are considering changing your health coverage as well as your drug coverage, review full benefits packages carefully to make sure you choose a plan that addresses your prescription and general health needs. Marci Marci's Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation's largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To subscribe to "Dear Marci," MRC's free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover and how to change plans, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center's website at www.medicarerights.org.