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Medicare Q & A

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FAMILY FEATURES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2009

Understanding health care coverage can be overwhelming. And keeping up with changes in Medicare benefits is no different. For many people, that translates into doing nothing about updating their current coverage.

•A majority (55 percent) of Medicare beneficiaries believe their health benefits will stay the same in 2010, according to The "Medicare Beneficiary Insights" poll by Suffolk University and Silverlink Communications.

•The poll also showed that 85 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are not currently planning to switch plans this year, and the majority will spend only minimal time (two hours or less) researching health plan options.

But experts say it isn't wise to blindly re-enroll in existing Medicare plans. Medicare and its private sector plans typically make annual changes to:

•Medical benefits

•Prescription benefits

•Coverage limits

•Consumer premiums

•Out-of-pocket expenses

So current users and new enrollees need to take the time to review plan options in order to get the best coverage possible.

•Make sure you know current enrollment dates.

•For 2009, the window closes Dec. 31. Those eligible for Medicare can review and - if necessary - adjust their Medicare coverage, which consists of traditional Medicare or private sector plan options licensed to operate in Medicare; Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D.

•If you do not choose new coverage, you will be automatically re-enrolled in the same coverage you had.

To help you evaluate your options, Chris Hakim, the Director of eHealthMedicare.com, encourages people to answer these questions:

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