Category: Programs & Services

  • Medicare Part B Start Date Changes

    Senior woman using smartphone at home after exercise. The use of technology by the elderly.Changes are coming in 2023 regarding when Medicare Part B coverage starts. Please forward this article to those who may need it.

    WHAT IS NOT CHANGING

    If you are eligible at age 65, your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Begins three months before your 65th birthday; includes the month of your 65th birthday; and ends three months after your 65th birthday. If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B or if you sign up during the first three months of your IEP, your coverage will start the month you’re first eligible. If you sign up the month you turn 65, your coverage will start the first day of the following month.

    WHAT IS CHANGING

    • Starting Jan. 1, 2023, your Medicare Part B coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up, if you sign up during the last three months of your IEP.
    • If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your IEP, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period (GEP), Jan. 1 through March 31. Starting Jan. 1, 2023, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

    Learn more about these updates at www.ssa.gov/medicare and our Medicare publication at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf.

    For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov
    or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

    Changes are coming in 2023 regarding when Medicare Part B coverage starts. Please forward this article to those who may need it.

  • Lower Prescription Copays in 2023

    According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the number of Medicare beneficiaries in Hawai‘i has grown to 281,091. Seventy-two percent of  beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage through Medicare Parts C and D. Even so, prescriptions can be expensive. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is intended to help lower copays for covered medications.

    close up of 100 dollar bill with pills on top of itStarting this year, all Part D-covered vaccinations will be free. For those who take a covered insulin, the maximum copay will now be $35 a month. Insulin used with a pump will cost $35 a month starting in July.

    Call or email Hawaii SHIP to request a free plan comparison. Plan comparison specialists will help you find the plan that best covers your medications for the lowest out-of-pocket cost. If you need help paying for your medication, counselors will screen for eligibility and help you to enroll in the Social Security Administration’s Extra Help program. All one-on-one counseling sessions are confidential and the information is unbiased — SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company. To learn more about Medicare and to help others, volunteer today.

    HAWAII SHIP
    Free, local, one-on-one Medicare counseling provided by the Hawai‘i State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
    250 South Hotel St., Ste. 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
    Oahu: 808-586-7299 | Toll free: 888-875-9229
    www.hawaiiship.org

    According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the number of Medicare beneficiaries in Hawai‘i has grown to 281,091. Seventy-two percent of  beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage through Medicare Parts C and D. Even so, prescriptions can be expensive. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is intended to help lower copays for covered medications.

  • Keep Good Health Insurance

    During my 12-plus years in the Medicare health insurance field, I have talked to many people aging into Medicare. In our discussions, I am consistently told that they never get sick and take few drugs, so they are just looking for the cheapest plan. I am always surprised, because I have noticed that health problems tend to manifest as seniors move into their 60s, 70s and beyond.

    However, a lot of progress has been made in the healthcare field. As we age, some body parts may show patterns of wear and tear and may need replacement. Other parts may be worn, but not excessively, and just need a tweak here and there for continued performance. With good healthcare, many serious conditions are resolved quickly and individuals with heart, back, knee, hip and joint issues may experience full restoration to health and good quality of life.

    In order to go the distance and perform optimally, you need to stay up to date with your preventive screenings. You may not be thrilled about getting your ears, nose and throat checked, blood draws, urine samples or that semi-annual dental cleaning — but just do it! Especially at 70, 80 and 90, your best quality of life may be just one medical exam away! So if you want to go the distance, keep good health insurance.

    GET2INSURANCE.COM FAMILY OFFICE
    1003 Bishop St., Ste. 2700, Honolulu, HI 96813
    800-226-3660 | martha@get2insurance.com
    www.Get2insurance.com

    During my 12-plus years in the Medicare health insurance field, I have talked to many people aging into Medicare. In our discussions, I am consistently told that they never get sick and take few drugs, so they are just looking for the cheapest plan. I am always surprised, because I have noticed that health problems…

  • Prevent Identify Theft

    Protect your identity and help prevent healthcare fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card. Scammers are expanding their targets, especially kūpuna, and they can be very convincing. A fraudster recently contacted a Honolulu resident, stating the resident’s name and date of birth. The con artist then offered to replace the resident’s Medicare card if he would share his Social Security Number (SSN). Luckily, the resident did not cooperate with this scammer.

    As the new year unfolds, keep the following important reminders handy. Important steps to protect against identify theft that can lead to healthcare fraud include:

    ◆ Not sharing or confirming your Medicare or SSN with anyone who contacts you by telephone, email or in person, unless you have given them permission in advance. Unless you ask them to, Medicare will never contact you to ask for your Medicare number or other personal information or to send you a new card. Medicare already has your information.

    ◆ Do not let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number.

    ◆ Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to be sure you and Medicare are only being charged for actual items and services received.

    Hawai‘i leads the 50 states and D.C. in life expectancy, so scammers will continue to tighten their grip on older adults here. So if you get a call offering you a new Medicare card in exchange for your personal information, just hang up. Then report it to Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii, a  federal-funded program managed by the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Executive Office on Aging (DOH-EOA).

    The 54 SMP chapters throughout the US and territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands help beneficiaries, families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud, errors and abuse through counseling, outreach and education, thanks to our trained volunteers. Since 1997, SMP has empowered and assisted people through its volunteer-based program — because we know it takes each of us, our entire state, to protect kūpuna.

    For more information on healthcare fraud prevention or how to help as a volunteer, contact SMP Hawaii using the information below.

    SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL (SMP) HAWAII
    Department of Health — Executive Office on Aging
    250 S. Hotel St., Ste. 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
    808-586-7281 | Toll Free: 1-800-296-9422
    info@smphawaii.org | smphawaii.org
    Facebook: smphawaii808
    This project was supported in part by grant number 90MPPG0053 from the US Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy. The Hawai‘i Department of Health – Executive Office on Aging has administered SMP Hawaii since 1997.

    Protect your identity and help prevent healthcare fraud by guarding your Medicare card like you would a credit card. Scammers are expanding their targets, especially kūpuna, and they can be very convincing. A fraudster recently contacted a Honolulu resident, stating the resident’s name and date of birth. The con artist then offered to replace the…

  • Door Opens for Those With Disabilities

    There is nothing a grandparent gets greater satisfaction from than helping their mo‘opuna. This may be especially true if the grandchild has special needs. Their ongoing health and financial welfare is priority one.

    But for too long, people with disabilities could not save for the future out of fear of losing essential government benefits — the ones they depend upon each and every day.

    The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 provided kūpuna with a way of preparing their grandchild for adulthood by giving people with disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome, hearing or vision loss, etc., the opportunity to save without losing benefits such as SSI and Medicaid. Those receiving  government benefits and their families now have a financial tool to put money aside for purchases to enhance their quality of life without jeopardizing benefits.

    Since Hawai‘i established its savings program (www.hawaiiablesavings.com), those with disabilities now have the opportunity to prepare and think in terms of their future — an option they did not have before. For as little as $25, grandparents and family members can open an account for their child or grandchild with eligible disabilities and contribute to their loved one’s ABLE account without affecting their benefits. They can finally save for qualified disability expenses, invest in a tax-free account and prepare for and invest in the future and keep the benefits needed every day. You can save and invest up to $16,000 a year for a wide range of eligible expenses, including health, wellness and prevention; housing; financial management; education; transportation; job training and support; assistive technology; and funeral and burial expenses.

    The account’s growth is tax free. Supplemental Security Income benefits won’t be affected as long as savings is below $100,000. Other benefits are not affected regardless of the amount saved.

    See the eligibility requirements at www.hawaiiablesavings. com/eligibility. For more information about the Hawai’i ABLE Savings Program, watch a webinar at www.hawaiiablesavings. com/resources or join one of the monthly presentations on the last Wednesday of each month.

    For more, contact Executive Administrator Daintry Bartoldus at the Hawai‘i State Council on Developmental Disabilities (see below).

    HAWAI‘I ABLE SAVING PROGRAM
    Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities
    Princess Victoria Kamamalu Building
    1010 Richards St., Rm. 122, Honolulu, HI 96813
    808-586-8100 | Fax: 808-586-7543
    daintry.bartoldus@doh.hawaii.gov
    www.hawaiiablesavings.com
    The ABLE team is an independent sub-unit of the Hawai‘i Department of Health, who strive to improve the lives and rights of individuals with developmental  disabilities.

    There is nothing a grandparent gets greater satisfaction from than helping their mo‘opuna. This may be especially true if the grandchild has special needs. Their ongoing health and financial welfare is priority one. But for too long, people with disabilities could not save for the future out of fear of losing essential government benefits —…

  • Medicare Enrollment: Stop, Look & Listen

    It’s Medicare Annual Enrollment time again! So are you looking at a ton of information and videos online, and reviewing stacks of sales materials from insurance companies? Too much information can cause more questions than answers and more confusion than common sense.

    Medicare was offered in 1966 to provide security and peace of mind, not to cause you to lose your mind, patience or money. Making a hasty decision because you are overwhelmed or confused by all of the Medicare information floating around can lead to problems.

    So instead, stop, look and listen to what your current Medicare plan is saying. If it is reasonably successful or effective, there is no need to change or replace it. Just stick with the plan!

    But if you decide to make a change to your existing Medicare Advantage plan, prescription drug plan or Original Medicare Part A and Part B, you can do so from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

    The peace of mind that comes with understanding is priceless. So for more information, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov. Check with Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or medicare.gov to learn about Medicare premiums, late enrollment penalties and Medicare insurance options available in your county.

    GET2INSURANCE.COM FAMILY OFFICE
    1003 Bishop St., Ste. 2700, Honolulu, HI 96813
    800-226-3660 | martha@get2insurance.com
    Get2insurance.com

    It’s Medicare Annual Enrollment time again! So are you looking at a ton of information and videos online, and reviewing stacks of sales materials from insurance companies? Too much information can cause more questions than answers and more confusion than common sense.

  • Senior Resources During the Holidays

    A close-up of a senior woman sitting at home at Christmas time.The holiday season is a joyful time to spend with loved ones. However, it can be challenging or seniors who are alone or on limited income. Getting to the market or medical appointments is difficult when you have few transportation options. For those on a limited income, it may involve making a tough choice — using their funds to buy food or pay monthly bills.

    Loneliness, social isolation, limited transportation and lack of adequate financial resources are often realities of life, not just during the holiday season, but also on a daily basis.

    We can help. Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH) offers Phone-A-Friend, a program that matches volunteer callers with isolated seniors via scheduled phone calls. CCH’s Transportation Services helps seniors access health, nutrition and social services. CCH’s Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) assists Medicare beneficiaries struggling financially to maximize their public and private benefits for their basic needs. Benefits may include the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) to help get food on the table, Medicare subsidies or Medicaid to help with medical care, Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help cover utility expenses, and more.

    CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAWAI‘I (501(c) 3 nonprofit)
    1822 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI 96822
    808-527-4777
    peter.reyes@catholiccharitieshawaii.org
    CatholicCharitiesHawaii.org

    The Benefits Enrollment Center program of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i is made possible through grants from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Walmart Foundation. Medicare recipients can contact the Benefit Enrollment Center at 808-527-4777 to learn more.

    The holiday season is a joyful time to spend with loved ones. However, it can be challenging or seniors who are alone or on limited income. Getting to the market or medical appointments is difficult when you have few transportation options. For those on a limited income, it may involve making a tough choice —…

  • Medicare: New Regulations Start This Fall

    Medicare and Medicaid agents are scheduled to begin recording calls and providing a new disclaimer at the beginning of phone calls this fall during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. These changes directly result from new compliance rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

    Agents will be required to record calls with customers who want to discuss Medicare Advantage and/or Part D prescription drug plans. Recordings are retained for a  minimum of 10 years. Agents must also recite a new, required disclaimer within the first 60 seconds of a call.

    “We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”

    These new regulations were implemented to help protect you, the Medicare beneficiary. Please ask the licensed agent you work with if they comply with these new rules and if the recordings are stored on a HIPAA-compliant system to ensure security of your Personal Health Information (PHI). This will help provide you peace of mind by ensuring that your information is protected.

    COPELAND INSURANCE GROUP
    1360 S. Beretania St., Ste. 209, Honolulu, HI 96814
    808-591-4877 | Fax: 808-589-2399
    margaret@copelandgroupusa.com
    copelandgroupusa.com

    Medicare and Medicaid agents are scheduled to begin recording calls and providing a new disclaimer at the beginning of phone calls this fall during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. These changes directly result from new compliance rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

  • Beware of Holiday Charity Scams

    If you are considering a donation to a charity during this season of giving, Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii warns you to be wary. Charities use the phone, face-to-face contact, email and the internet — and so do scammers. The Federal Trade Commission, an SMP partner, offers these tips to keep you safe from scammers:

    • Ask for the charity’s exact name, address and phone number.

    • Research the organization online — especially with the word “complaint(s)” or “scam.”

    • Call the charity to confirm that it has people soliciting donations.

    • Ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser. If so, ask the name of the charity they represent and the percentage of donations that go to the charity.

    • Keep a record of donations.

    • Never send cash. Pay by check made payable to the charity or by credit card.

    • Never wire money to someone claiming to be a charity. Scammers often request donations to be wired because wiring money is like sending cash: once you send it, you can’t get it back.

    • Never give your credit or check card number, bank account number or any personal information until you’ve thoroughly researched the charity.

    • For more information, visit ftc.gov. To learn more about Medicare fraud and scams, visit SMP online.

    Fifty-four SMPs in the nation empower and assist beneficiaries, families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud, errors and abuse through counseling, outreach and education. Contact SMP Hawaii for free presentations, counseling and how to protect yourself against scammers. This volunteer-based program depends on caring, qualified and professional volunteers to help kūpuna against falling victim to Medicare fraudsters and more. Join our team and make an immediate and lasting difference in our community!

    SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL (SMP) HAWAII
    Department of Health — Executive Office on Aging
    250 S. Hotel St., Ste. 406, Honolulu, HI 96813
    808-586-7281 | Toll Free: 1-800-296-9422
    info@smphawaii.org | smphawaii.org

    This project was supported in part by grant number 90MPPG0053 from the US Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy. The Hawai‘i Department of Health – Executive Office on Aging has administered SMP Hawaii since 1997.

    If you are considering a donation to a charity during this season of giving, Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii warns you to be wary. Charities use the phone, face-to-face contact, email and the internet — and so do scammers. The Federal Trade Commission, an SMP partner, offers these tips to keep you safe from scammers.

  • Navigating Mental Illness

    One in five people are affected by mental health conditions each year. Since the pandemic, that number has been on the rise. NAMI Hawaii, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the state organization that supports our community’s mental health and gives them hope.

    NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, with over 600 affiliates in the US and four affiliates in each county in the state. NAMI’s mission is to provide support, education, advocacy and awareness so that all  individuals and families can build better lives.

    NAMI provides free programs across the state on Zoom and in person. Family-to-Family is a free, eight-session educational program for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. NAMI provides support for families and caregivers..

    Peer-to-Peer is a free, eight-session educational program for adults with mental health conditions who are looking to better understand themselves and their recovery.

    NAMI also provides connection recovery support groups, a speakers’ bureau, crisis intervention team training and workshops for law enforcement, Ending the Silence for youth, and general help and information.

    In September, NAMI National will release its first book, called, “You Are Not Alone” (zandoprojects.com/books/). The book is the “NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health — With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families… resource for individuals and families seeking expert guidance on diagnosis, treatment and recovery, featuring true stories from real people from across the country — including the Aloha State.”

    On Dec. 10, attend NAMI Hawaii’s You Are Not Alone event. Enjoy a free breakfast with NAMI and hear National Medical Director Dr. Ken Duckworth, discuss the book’s amazing stories.

    NAMI HAWAII (501(c) 3 nonprofit)
    5240, 770 Kapiolani Blvd., # 613, Honolulu, HI 96813
    808-591-1297 | info@namihawaii.org
    namihawaii.org

    One in five people are affected by mental health conditions each year. Since the pandemic, that number has been on the rise. NAMI Hawaii, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the state organization that supports our community’s mental health and gives them hope.

  • The Benefits of Medicare Advantage

    A recent study concluded that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (also known as MAPD) spend almost $2,000 less per year on their healthcare costs when compared to those with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D). Maybe the savings are because of the valuable extras that MAPD plans offer their members.

    Medicare Advantage plans are required by law to cover everything that Parts A and B cover, but typically, these MAPD plans add numerous benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t offer. These might include vision, hearing and dental coverage as well as discounted chiropractic and acupuncture. Sometimes they offer free transportation, over-the-counter (OTC) products, gym membership and even a complimentary fitness tracker. Some Medicare Advantage plans value healthy activities to the extent that they are willing to reward members with gift cards for completing preventive screenings or exercising. Also, many MAPD plans charge a lower drug deductible than a stand-alone prescription drug plan. The truly surprising part is that these Medicare Advantage plans often have $0 monthly premiums.

    Check with an expert to see if one of these plans might be beneficial to you.

    THE MEDICARE GEEK
    1221 Victoria St., #3103, Honolulu, HI 96814
    808-724-4993 | robin@themedicaregeek.com
    themedicaregeek.com

    A recent study concluded that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans spend almost $2,000 less per year on their healthcare costs when compared to those with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D).