With Medicare open enrollment happening Oct. 15-Dec. 7, people turning age 65 and older have the opportunity to choose the plan that best suits their needs. But with more than 100 options to choose from, including 70 or so Medicare Advantage plans, making an informed decision can be intimidating and stressful.
It’s not only older adults who find the process to be confusing but also people of all ages who might be helping a senior loved one pick the best coverage. Throw in TV commercials, targeted internet ads, phone calls, text messages and direct mail pieces, as well as people and corporations whose agendas may not be in the best interests of senior adults or their families, and it’s downright overwhelming.
Fortunately, the staff at The Senior Source have expertise in Medicare and offer both education resources and individual counseling. This independent and unbiased assistance gives older adults and their families the information they need to navigate the Medicare maze and make the best decision.
With a little expert help from the team at The Senior Source, there’s no longer reason to fear the process. “Medicare is like this giant game you are about to play. What is the most important thing to know before you start playing a game? Knowing the rules,” says Carl Burlbaw, assistant director of the Elder Financial Safety Center at The Senior Source.
In his role he supports a team of counselors, coaches, instructors, case workers and coordinators with their day-to-day duties, making sure they have the tools needed to serve clients. In 2014, he started at The Senior Source as a staff insurance counselor, assisting clients with all types of insurance matters such as Medicare, health, and life- and long-term care. Part of his job then and now is to educate people and ensure that they have the information to limit or eliminate surprises down the road.
“I recommend starting on our Medicare page,” he says. “You will find information about our Medicare counseling services, as well as important dates for Medicare information sessions.” In addition, for anyone seeking help for themselves or a loved one, Burlbaw recommends going through The Senior Source intake process, to determine the most appropriate place to start a conversation, whether it be about Medicare, budgeting, retirement, employment, benefits or any other situation related to a person’s long-term financial health and wellness.
There’s also a free Medicare 2024 Open Enrollment Launch on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Senior Source, which is located at 3910 Harry Hines Blvd in Dallas. Strategically scheduled a couple of weeks before open enrollment begins, the free seminar allows participants to start reviewing their Medicare plan to make sure it meets their needs in the coming year. Attendees will learn what is important when searching for a plan and how to make an informed decision without being pressured into something that may not be the best fit. It’s also a good time for people who already have Medicare to evaluate their current coverage to see if any changes are needed.
Scott Chase, an attorney certified in health law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is a board member at The Senior Source and also serves on the strategic planning committee. “We were looking at long-range plans and long-range goals and [realized] that most people, when they turn 65, are very confused about Medicare and what choices they have and how to navigate the system,” Chase says. “And I had gone through Medicare enrollment many years ago and agreed.”
Now, he says, after a few years of checking his coverage annually on the Medicare website, it makes a lot more sense than it did when he first enrolled. “It’s really not that crazy or that unique from other membership-type websites,” Chase says.
This is also why counselors at The Senior Source have been fine-tuning procedures over the past year to develop a decision-tree-type process that should help lead a person to the right plan. It can help clarify whether traditional Medicare makes more sense than Medicare Advantage, which is managed by insurance companies that run a plan more like an HMO or PPO.
Of course, it’s important to note that The Senior Source can provide as much information as someone needs, but the final decision is entirely up to the enrollee. “Our role is not to recommend a person choose a certain path to get their Medicare benefits,” Burlbaw says. “Everyone is different, with specific needs and priorities. We help people determine what their priorities are for choosing a Medicare plan, so that they can feel comfortable making the decision. It’s about empowering people with the right information.”
For instance, if a person’s health status is in flux, such as having new health issues or having recently overcome specific health issues, they may need to choose a different Medicare plan to get the best and most appropriate coverage.
Another key deciding factor can be whether a person wants to stay with certain doctors, who may or may not be part of traditional Medicare but are a part of a particular Medicare Advantage plan — and vice versa. The same goes for prescription coverage, because certain medications may be cheaper on one type of plan over another.
William R. Miller, 85, has been using The Senior Source for the last few years to help him with Medicare enrollment, particularly figuring out his medications. “They’re an asset, I tell you that,” he says. “Carl Burlbaw has helped me considerably with selecting a prescription program every year, because they’re constantly changing. One year, medications are dropped, new ones come in, the costs can double or go down. It never ends.” Miller encourages any senior living in D-FW to take advantage of the programs the nonprofit organization offers.
“The staff at The Senior Source are dedicated to making sure older adults feel safe and secure in their everyday lives. Also, we have trained volunteers who work with clients on a regular basis, making sure their bills are paid on time, sorting through their mail, and keeping important papers and documents organized,” Burlbaw says. “We take our work very seriously.”
Everything The Senior Source does is with the client’s best interest in mind. Medicare counseling is no different. It’s about seeking assistance, asking appropriate questions, providing the right information, empowering the person and recognizing their value as a citizen of the D-FW community.
“That is our process,” he says, “and it’s worked in Dallas for 60-plus years.”
To schedule a free consultation or learn more about Medicare seminars and other services of The Senior Source, call 214-823-5700 or visit www.theseniorsource.org. Additional resources people may wish to check out before meeting with The Senior Source include the Medicare website, the Social Security Administration website’s Medicare section and Medicare Interactive.