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FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INVESTOR PROTECTION TRUST, THE STATE OF ALASKA DIVISION OF BANKING AND SECURITIES AND AARP ALASKA. [ MUSIC ] IN TODAY'S PROGRAM WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HOW AND WHEN TO ENROLL IN MEDICARE? NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST, ANN SECREST. >> HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO AARP ALASKA. TODAY OUR GUEST IS NILA MORGAN, CERTIFIED MEDICARE COUNSELOR, AND FRAUD EDUCATION COORDINATOR WITH THE MEDICARE INFORMATION OFFICE. THAT IS A LONG TITLE. YOU ARE LOCATED, NILA, IN THE ANCHORAGE SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER AND YOU ALSO COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS. LOTS GOING ON. >> WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON. >> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? HOW DID YOU END UP IN YOUR CURRENT POSITION? >> WELL, ANN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH SENIORS. FOR 20 YEARS IN THE NURSING FIELD AND THEN I WORKED IN SOCIAL SERVICES FOR A WHILE. AND IN MAY OF 2012, I BEGAN TO WORK WITH MEDICARE AND I FOUND IT VERY REWARDING. >> WHENEVER WE DO A SEMINAR AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WITH MEDICARE WITH THE OUTREACH THAT WE HAVE DONE JOINTLY, PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MEDICARE. SO LET'S START AND TALK ABOUT MEDICARE. WHAT IS MEDICARE? AND WE HAVE A SLIDE UP. >> WELL, MEDICARE IS ACTUALLY OUR NATION'S LARGEST HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. IT COVERS CURRENTLY ABOUT 55 MILLION AMERICANS, AND ALMOST 84,000 ALASKANS. SO MEDICARE IS MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AGE 65 AND OLDER AND PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 65 WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES AND HAVE BEEN ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR 24 MONTHS. PEOPLE WITH IN-STAGE RENAL DISEASE KNOWN AS ERSD AND THESE ARE PEOPLE IN PERMANENT KIDNEY FAILURE, WHO REQUIRE DIALYSIS OR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT AND PEOPLE WITH LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE KNOWN AS AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AND PEOPLE WITH ALS BEGIN RECEIVING MEDICARE THE FIRST MONTH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF MEDICARE AND LOOK WITH THE SLIDE AND START WITH PART A. >> MEDICARE PART A IS CALLED "HOSPITAL INSURANCE." IT PROVIDES INPATIENT HOSPITAL COVERAGE AND ALSO PROVIDES COVERAGE IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES, HOME HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND HOSPICE COVERAGE AND PART B OF MEDICARE CALLED MEDICAL INSURANCE AND PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY OUTPATIENT SERVICES LIKE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND DURABLE EQUIPMENT AND PREVENTATIVE SCREENINGS, TESTS OR SHOTS. >> NOW THE SCARY PART FOR PEOPLE IS ENROLLING IN MEDICARE. WHEN I TURN -- >> I HAVE A COUPLE MORE PARTS OF MEDICARE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. >> I'M SORRY. >> THAT IS ALL RIGHT. PART C IS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, THESE ARE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE APPROVED BY MEDICARE, AND THESE PLANS COMBINE PART A, PART D, PART B, PART D WHICH IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE AND CAN ALSO INCLUDE OTHER BENEFITS. PART D OF MEDICARE, PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE, THAT HELPS TO PAY FOR OUTPATIENT PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, AND LASTLY, SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICARE OR MEDI GAP PLANS. THESE ARE PLANS DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT PART A AND PART B AND FILL IN THE GAPS OF ORIGINAL MEDICARE. >> NOW WITH PART D, THAT IS NOW 10 YEARS OLD. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IT STARTED IN 2006. >> AND SUPPLEMENTAL -- PEOPLE DON'T REALLY FULLY REALIZE THAT MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER 100% AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IT CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TALK ABOUT ENROLLING IN MEDICARE. WHEN I TURN 65 WILL I BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED? WHAT STEPS DO I HAVE TO TAKE? >> IF YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED IN PART A AND PART B WITHOUT SUBMITTING AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION. YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE MEDICARE CARD OR INITIAL PACKET IN THE MAIL ABOUT THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE MONTH OF THE YOUR BIRTH DATE AND COVERAGE WILL START ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH OF YOUR BIRTHDAY. OR IF YOU ARE ON SSDI, SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS YOU WILL RECEIVE THE PACK YET ABOUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE THE 25TH MONTH OF YOUR DISABILITY BENEFIT AND THE COVERAGE WILL START ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH YOU RECEIVE THOSE 25TH MONTH OF DISABILITY BENEFITS. >> IN ONE OF THE BULLETS HERE, THE INITIAL ENROLL THE PERIOD PACKAGE MAILED THREE MONTHS BEFORE AGE 65, WHEN YOU AND I WERE REHEARSING FOR THIS PROGRAM, YOU TALKED ABOUT MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH SOCIAL SECURITY. WHY DO YOU RECOMMEND STARTING THREE MONTHS BEFORE YOU TURN 65? >> WELL, AS WE KNOW, THE BABY-BOOMERS ARE AGING AT A RATE AT ABOUT 10,000 INDIVIDUALS A DAY, TURNING 65 IN THE UNITED STATES. SO MANY OF THE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE TRYING TO ACCESS THEIR MEDICARE BENEFITS. SO THERE IS A DELUGE OF APPLICATIONS COMING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY AND TO ENSURE THAT YOU GET YOUR APPLICATION PROCESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO START ABOUT THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE. >> NOW IS THAT BOTH ONLINE OR GOING DOWN TO THE LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE? AND I'M GOING TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT, IF I -- WHEN I TURN 65, I CAN'T JUST WALK INTO YOUR OFFICE AND SAY HERE I AM? I HAVE TO ACTUALLY GO TO SOCIAL SECURITY? >> THAT IS CORRECT. SO MEDICARE ENROLLMENT AND DISENROLLMENT IS ACTUALLY DONE BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. SO WHEN YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR MEDICARE, YOU NEED TO CONTACT THEM. THERE IS A VARIETY OF WAYS TO DO THAT. YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO THE SOCIALSECURITY.GOV WEBSITE AND ENROLL THERE OR YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL HOTLINE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY WHICH IS 1-800-772-1213. AND ENROLL OVER THE PHONE. OR THE BEST WAY TO DO IS IT TO CONTACT THEM OVER THE PHONE, EVEN IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE. THEY'LL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT FOR YOU. THAT IS AS I SUGGESTED EARLIER, YOU WANT TO DO THAT WELL IN ADVANCE OF YOUR ELIGIBILITY DATE. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE WALK IN TO SEE YOU, ASSUMING THAT YOU CAN SIGN THEM UP FOR MEDICARE RIGHT THERE. >> WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF PEOPLE SAYING MY 55TH BIRTHDAY WAS LAST WEEK, WHAT DO I DO? GO TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND THEY CAN HELP YOU. SO WHEN TO ENROLL? THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO -- WE HAVE A SLIDE UP HERE -- SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RETIRED. YOUR INITIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD LASTS SEVERAL MONTHS. BEGINS THREE MONTHS BEFORE YOUR 65 BIRTHDAY AND INCLUDES THE MONTH YOU TURN 65 AND ENDS THREE MONTHS AFTER YOU TURN 65, BUT THERE ARE OTHER TIMES THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ENROLL. >> THAT IS TRUE, WE HAVE OTHER SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS, SPES, AND FOR SOME EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO ENROLL. WHEN YOU ARE WALKING AND BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR PART B, BUT YOU ALREADY HAVE ACTIVE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER, YOU CAN WAIT AND WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE THAT COVERAGE, LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO RETIRE, OR THAT COVERAGE IS LOST, THEN YOU HAVE AN 8-MONTH WINDOW IN WHICH YOU CAN ENROLL PART B WITHOUT PENALTY. STILL AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO START WITH IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A GAP IN YOUR COVERAGE. AT LEAST TWO MONTHS, IF YOU KNOW THAT RETIREMENT DATE, LEAST TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT TO START YOUR APPLICATION FOR PART B. >> THAT AMAZING. I'M SURE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET SOMETHING IN THE MAIL. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> AGAIN, YOU HAD MENTIONED THE PHONE NUMBER, BUT I'M GOING TO REPEAT THAT. AND WE HAVE THAT ONLINE. AGAIN YOU CAN ENROLL WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND WE'RE GOING EMPHASIZE THAT. EITHER ONLINE AND WE HAVE GOT THE WEBSITE WWW.SOCIAL SECURITY.GOV OR CALL THE NUMBER. IF YOU ARE RETIRED FROM THE RAILROAD? >> IF YOU ARE RETIRED FROM THE RAILROAD YOU ENROLL IN THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD, THAT IS WHO DOES THE ENROLLMENT FOR THEM. YOU CAN GO TO THE LOCAL OFFICE OR CONTACT THEIR NATIONAL HOTLINE THIS IS 1-877-772-5772. THAT IS ANOTHER HOTLINE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT TO ENROLL THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT. >> YOU RATTLED OFF THOSE PHONE NUMBERS WITH NO NOTES IN FRONT OF YOU. >> I SAID THEM A FEW TIMES. [LAUGHTER ] >> SHOULD PEOPLE KEEP THEIR MEDICARE CARD ON THEIR PERSON AT ALL TIMES? >> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. WHEN YOU GET YOUR RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE MEDICARE CARD IN THE MAIL, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK IT OVER VERY CAREFULLY. MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT, AND THAT THE SPELLING IS CORRECT. IF EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY, GO AHEAD AND SIGN THE BOTTOM OF THE CARD. MAKE A COUPLE OF COPIES OF IT AND KEEP THE CARD AND COPIES IN A SAFE PLACE, WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR IMPORTANT MEDICAL INFORMATION. CROOKS ACTUALLY TARGET SENIORS TO STEAL THEIR WALLETS AND PURSES TO GET THAT CARD BECAUSE THEY CAN USE IT LIKE A CREDIT CARD ON THEIR BEHALF AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LAMINATE THE CARDS, WHICH WILL PRESERVE THEM FOR A LOT LONGER. >> YOU SUGGEST TO KEEP ALL YOUR PAPERWORK TOGETHER AND TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICES AND DON'T TOSS THEM AWAY. WHAT INFORMATION DO THEY CONTAIN? >> THEY ARE STATEMENTS SENT TO YOU IN THE MAIL, ONCE YOU ARE ON MEDICARE. IF YOU RECEIVED SOME KIND OF SERVICE OR PRODUCT IN THE THREE -MONTH PERIOD, THEY WILL SEND NOTICES OUT QUARTERLY. AND IT'S BASICALLY JUST A STATEMENT THAT REFLECTS WHAT MEDICARE WAS BILLED FOR ON YOUR BEHALF AND WHAT MEDICARE PAID AND HOW MUCH YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AS WELL? SO MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICES ARE ALSO A VERY GOOD WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF ANY MISTAKES THAT MIGHT BE MADE IN THE MEDICARE PROVIDER'S BILLING. SO WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK OVER THEM CAREFULLY AND REVIEW THEM WITH THEIR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE LOG. >> IN OTHER WORDS, DID I RECEIVE THE SERVICE MARCH 4TH? WHAT WAS DONE ON MARCH 4TH? WHAT DOES A PERSON DO IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY? WHAT IS THE FIRST THING TO DO? >> THE FIRST STEP IS TO CONTACT THE PROVIDER. SOMETIMES THERE WILL BE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS BILLING MEDICARE ON YOUR BEHALF THAT IS LEGITIMATE, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GET AN X-RAY, THE RADIOLOGIST WHO READS THAT X-RAY, YOU MAY NEVER MEET, BUT HE IS GOING TO BILL MEDICARE FOR THE SERVICES AND IT WILL EXPLAIN THE DISCREPANCY. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE RESPONSE YOU GET FROM THE PROVIDER YOU ARE WELCOME TO CALL THE MEDICARE INFORMATION OFFICE, OUR OFFICE AT THE SENIOR CENTER OR 1-800 MEDICARE. >> WE'LL BE BACK WITH OUR GUEST NILA MORGAN RIGHT AFTER. >> AARP ONLINE QUESTION AND ANSWER TOOL CAN PROVIDE ANSWERS ABOUT SOME COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE. CHECK OUT THE MEDICARE Q&A TOOL AT AARP.ORG/MEDICARE Q&A. >> WE'RE BACK WITH NILA MORGAN, CERTIFIED MEDICARE COUNSELOR WITH THE MEDICARE INFORMATION OFFICE WHO WORKS FOR THE ANCHORAGE SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER. I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE AND POINT OUT THE LAST BULLET POINT "CREATE A MYMEDICARE.GOV ONLINE." WHEN PEOPLE COME TO YOU, ABOUT TO TURN 65, THE AMOUNT OF THE PAPERWORK MUST BE JUST OVERWHELMING FOR PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU COUNSEL THEM AS FAR AS THE BEST WAY TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT? >> WELL, OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE AN ACCOUNT HAS ALREADY BEEN SETUP FOR THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN SENT A PIN NUMBER. AND SO THEY GET SO MANY COMMUNICATIONS IN THE MAIL AROUND THAT TIME BETWEEN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, THAT OFTEN TIMES THEY ARE OVERWHELMED AND DON'T OFTEN READ EVERY DOCUMENT. THE BEST THING TO DO IS GO TO THE SITE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN SENT A PIN, YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP AND THE MY MEDICARE WEBSITE HELPS YOU ACCESS YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, INCLUDING YOUR PART B DEDUCTIBLE STATUS AND DIFFERENT SCREENINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE ENROLLMENT AND ALSO THE CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN PROCESSED ON YOUR BEHALF RIGHT ON THAT SIGHT. >> WHAT DOES PART A COST? >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. MEDICARE PART A IS GENERALLY NO COST TO MOST INDIVIDUALS IF THEY HAVE PAID MEDICARE TAXES. THEY OR THEIR SPOUSE CAN HAVE PAID THEM THROUGH THEIR WORK HISTORY. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR WHAT WE CALL "PREMIUM FREE PART A." YOU CAN STILL BUY PART A, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE. SO PEOPLE PAYING 20-30 QUARTERS INTO THE SYSTEM WILL PAY ABOUT $411 A MONTH FOR THAT PREMIUM. PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAID BETWEEN 30 AND 39 QUARTERS WILL PAY $226 A MONTH IN 2016 FOR PART A PREMIUM. >> GOT IT. AND THEN PAYING FOR MEDICARE PART B? >> RIGHT. MEDICARE PART B IN 2016 ALSO HAS AN INTERESTING SITUATION. SO IF YOU WERE RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN 2015, AND YOU WERE ENROLLED IN PART B, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO PAY THE SAME PREMIUM YOU PAID LAST YEAR AT $104.90. HOWEVER, IF YOU NEW TO MEDICARE THIS YEAR, YOUR PREMIUM IS GOING TO BE $121.80. THAT IS THE THRESHOLD BASE COST. IN ADDITION, FOR PART B THERE IS ALSO AN ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE OF $166. AND THEN THERE IS THAT 20% CO-PAY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WITH MOST SERVICES. >> AND THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS FOR PREVENTATIVE SERVICES IN PART B, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF PREVENTATIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE ON MEDICARE PART B. THESE ARE TESTS AND SCREENINGS, AND SHOTS THAT HELP PREVENT, DETECT AND MANAGE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS. MOST OF THE TIME, PREVENTATIVE SCREENINGS HAVE NO COST TO THEM, BUT THE DOCTOR OR PROVIDER MAY CHARGE AN OFFICE VISIT WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE PREVENTATIVE SCREENINGS. >> YOU ALSO GET A WELCOME TO MEDICARE VISIT WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF HAVING PART B, YOU ARE WELCOME TO MEDICARE VISIT AND AFTER THAT EVERY YEAR YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER, WHICH ALWAYS SURPRISES PEOPLE. >> YES, IT DOES AND THERE IS SEVERAL THINGS THAT MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER. FOR EXAMPLE, ROUTINE EYE EXAMS AND EYEGLASSES AND ROUTINE DENTAL WORK AND ALSO AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS EXAMS AND HEARING AIDS AND WE ENCOURAGE BENEFICIARIES TO SAVE MONEY TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES AND MEDICARE DOESN'T COVER LONG-TERM CARE. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE CAN EXAMINE OR THINK ABOUT PURCHASING A LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE PLAN TO COVER THAT. >> NOW THERE IS A CERTAIN WINDOW, LIKE THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. IT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY ARE ADMITTED. AND THEN IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S WRITTEN UP AS FAR AS HOW THE PHYSICIAN WRITES IT UP. I'M ALWAYS SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER CERTAIN SERVICES. >> YES. >> >> YES, THEY THINK IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSES. WE TALKED ABOUT MEDICARE PART A AND PART B AND NOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDICARE PART C AND MEDI GAP POLICY? >> LET'S START WITH MEDI GAP, ALSO CALLED SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICARE. ARE POLICIES DESIGNED TO FILL IN THE GAPS THAT PART A AND PART B LEAVE. SO THEY ARE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES, THAT ARE OVERSEEN BY THE DIVISION OF INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF ALASKA. THERE IS TEN PLANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. PLAN A IS THE BASIC PLAN. AND THEY ARE DESIGNATED A-N. AND SO THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS PLAN F. BUT PLAN A AS THE BASIC COVERAGE AND ALL OF THE REST OF THE PLANS ARE JUST DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF BELLS AND WHISTLES. >> THAT IS IN ALASKA. >> IT'S NATIONWIDE EXCEPT FOR THREE STATES. IN STATE OF ALASKA ELEVEN DIFFERENT COMPANIES OFFER THE PLAN. NOT EVERY COMPANY OFFERS EVERY PLAN. THE PLANS ARE STANDARDIZED, WHICH MEANS IF YOU HAVE PURCHASE PLAN A, NO MATTER WHAT COMPANY YOU PURCHASE IT FROM YOUR COVERAGE WILL BE IDENTICAL. HOWEVER, THE COSTS CAN VARY DRAMATICALLY FROM COMPANY TO COMPANY AND IT'S WISE FOR BENEFICIARIES TO COMPARE THE MEDI GAP PLANS. WE CAN HELP AS WELL BY PROVIDING -- WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE DETERMINE WHICH PLAN IS GOING TO FIT THEM THE BEST? >> GOT IT. NOW MEDICARE PART D AS WE JUST MENTIONED IS 10 YEARS OLD. HOW DOES IT WORK? >> WELL, MEDICARE PART D-PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE IS OPTIONAL. BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE OTHER COVERAGE, OTHER PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE, WHICH IS CREDIBLE, WHICH MEAN IT'S GOOD OR BETTER THAN MEDICARE YOU COULD END UP PAYING A PENALTY IF YOU DON'T ENROLL. PART D PRESCRIPTION DUG COVERAGE ARE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH MEDICARE. SO THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN MEDICATIONS UNDER EVERY THERAPEUTIC CATEGORY AVAILABLE. BUT THEY GET TO DETERMINE WHICH MEDICATIONS THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE WITHIN THE PLAN. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 17 PLANS IN THE STATE OF ALASKA FOR 2016. THE PLANS HAVE DIFFERENT PARTS TO THEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR. SO THE PREMIUM, WHICH IS THE PART YOU PAY TO BELONG TO THE PLAN CAN RANGE FROM $18.40 AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLAN IS AROUND $90.20. AND OF COURSE IT'S ALL DRIVEN BY THE SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS. A VARIETY OF MEDICATIONS THAT THE PLAN OFFERS. MOST OF THE PLANS HAVE DEDUCTIBLES AND THE HIGHEST DEDUCTIBLE FOR 2016 IS $360. AND KOPF PAY IS THE PART YOU PAY AT THE PHARMACY WHEN YOU PICK UP YOUR MEDICATIONS. UNDER THE PLANS, THE PLAN PAY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE COST OF THE MEDICATION AND THE BENEFICIARY PAYS THE REMAINDER. >> IF SOMEONE IS NEW TO MEDICARE AND TAKING MEDS, WHERE DO THEY GO FOR HELP, IF THEY ARE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY AND NEED HELP, WHERE DO THEY GO? >> THEY CAN ALL THE INFORMATION OFFICE OR SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER AND WE HAVE COUNSELORS TRAINED IN PART D AND THE TOOL ONLINE IS CALLED THE MEDICARE DRUG PLAN FINDER THAT WE USE. IT INCORPORATES AND -- WE DETERMINE EACH PLAN, WHICH IS THE BEST PLAN FOR EACH BENEFICIARY BY THE SPECIFIC DRUGS THAT THEY ARE TAKING AND THE PHARMACIES THAT THEY LIKE TO USE? >> GOT IT. I KNOW IN 2006 I HAD WALKED MY PARENTS THROUGH THIS, AND IT'S REALLY SITTING DOWN -- I KIND OF THE EXPLAINED IT LIKE A RELATIONAL DATABASE. HAS THAT CHANGED? >> IT IS MUCH LIKE THAT. WITH WHEN WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH SOMEONE, WHETHER IN PERSON OR IN THE OVER THE PHONE, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO BRING THEIR RED-WHITE-AND-BLUE CARD AND THEIR MEDICATION OR JUST A LIST OF MEDICATIONS FROM THE PHARMACIST. >> NOT A HAND-WRITTEN LIST? >> NO. >> AN ACTUAL OFFICIAL ONE? >> YES. >> WE TALKED ABOUT MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICE. IT'S NOT A BILL. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REVIEW IT. IT SHOWS ALL OF YOUR SERVICES AND SUPPLIES AND IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD READ CAREFULLY AND SHOULD HAVE A SYSTEM WITH RECEIPT AND BILLS AND A RECORD OF APPOINTMENTS, AND THEN COMPARE IT TO A FIX THAT THEY CAN COMPARE THEIR RECEIPTS TO THE MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICE AND MAKE SURE IT'S ACCURATE. >> WE GIVE OUT PERSONAL HEALTH CARE LOGS. PEOPLE CAN CALL US OR ASK US FOR THOSE AND HAPPY TO GIVE THEM TO THEM. IT'S A TOOL TO KEEP TRACK OF THOSE SERVICES AS A PLACE FOR YOUR MED LIST OR GOOD INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED GOING TO A PROVIDER. WITH MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICE, THEY ACTUALLY SEND OUT SEPARATE NOTICES FOR PART A, PART B AND DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. YOU MAY GET MORE THAN ONE. >> THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT -- NEXT SLIDE -- IS MEDICARE WASTE. >> YES. MEDICARE ESTIMATES THAT ABOUT $60 BILLION A YEAR IS LOST TO MEDICARE FRAUD. AND SO THAT, OF COURSE, IS EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM. AND SO MEDICARE WASTE IS A CONTINUUM. IT TAKES IN ERRORS, ABUSE, AND FRAUD. AND SO SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST MAKE A BILLING ERROR, A TYPO. THAT IS CONSIDERED AN "ERROR." "ABUSE" IS WHICH A PROVIDER OR EVEN THE BILLING CONTRACTOR HAS BAD PRACTICES THAT COST MEDICARE MONEY. AND THEN "FRAUD," THE DEFINITION OF "FRAUD," INTENTIONAL FRAUD OF MEDICARE. >> SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S WASTE IT INCLUDES FRAUD AS WELL? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I HAVE THE SLIDE UP, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SET UP MYMEDICARE.GOV AND WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS MYMEDICARE.GOV LOOKS VERY SIMPLE GETTING STARTS AND FOR RESOURCES WITH INFORMATION AND TOLL-FREE NUMBERS FOR MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH IS THE FIRST PLACE TO START. AS WELL AS ALASKA'S MEDICARE INFORMATION OFFICE. AND FINALLY, I DO WANT TO PUT UP YOUR INFORMATION. AND LEAVE IT UP FOR PEOPLE TO JOT DOWN YOUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER 1-800-478-6065 AND YOUR PHONE NUMBER, 770-2070 AND YOUR EMAIL IS ALSO THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND I WANT TO THANK OUR GUEST NILA MORGAN, CERTIFIED MEDICARE COUNSELOR AND MEDICARE FRAUD EDUCATION COORDINATOR WITH THE ANCHORAGE SENIOR ACTIVITIES CENTER MEDICARE INFORMATION OFFICE. AARP IS A NON-PROFIT NON- PARTISAN ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 87,000 MEMBERS IN ALASKA AND WE LEAD POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE AND DELIVER VALUE TO OUR MEMBERS THROUGH INFORMATION, ADVOCACY AND SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AARP ALASKA. [ MUSIC ] FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM MADE POSSIBLE BY THE INVESTOR PROTECTION TRUST, THE STATE OF ALASKA DIVISION OF BANKING AND SECURITIES, AND AARP ALASKA.