Day 1 SHINE Program Certification Training

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Day 1SHINE ProgramCertification Training
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Welcome!

• SHINE Serving the Health Insurance Needs of
  Everyone..on Medicare
• Started in Massachusetts 1985
• Partially federally funded since 1992
• Part of national SHIP State Health Insurance
  Assistance Programs

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State Organization

• Executive Office of Elder Affairs
• State SHINE Director Cindy Phillips
• Assistant State Director
• State Field Operations Manager/Training
  Coordinator Annie Toth
• State Program Coordinator Jessica
  Gutierrez-Dutra

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Regional Organization

• Regional SHINE Office
• Regional SHINE Director
• SHINE Program Assistant

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Overall Goal

• To ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access
  to accurate, unbiased information regarding
  health insurance and health care options
• To help people help themselves

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Examples Of What We Do

• Assist people in understanding their Medicare and
  MassHealth rights and benefits
• Educate people about all of their health
  insurance options
• Screen for public benefits (State and Federal)
• Assist with applications
• Resolve problems with insurances Medicare,
  MassHealth

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Training

• Certification training
• Mentoring
• Monthly training meetings
• October Review and training for Medicares
  annual Open Enrollment
• Recertification review every spring

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Were Here To Support You

• Regional Office Staff
• Director name and phone number
• Assistant Director name and phone number
• SHINE Counselor Website
• shinecounselor.800ageinfo.com
• Common Resources
• SHINE newsletter The Beacon

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Medicare Part A Part B
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Medicare

• Federal health insurance program for
• Individuals over age 65
• Individuals under age 65 with a disability
• Enacted into law 1965, Title XVIII of the Social
  Security Act Effective July 1st , 1966
• Entitlement program
• Never intended to cover 100 of healthcare costs
• NOT a comprehensive health insurance program

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Medicare

• Medicare only pays for services which are
  reasonable and medically necessary for the
  treatment and diagnosis of an accident or illness
• Even when medically necessary, there are gaps
  in Medicare coverage and the beneficiary must pay
  a portion of the medical expenses

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Federal Agencies Involved With Medicare
  Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administers Medicare through its divisions, CMS and SSA     Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Administers Medicare through its divisions, CMS and SSA  
Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) Determines policy Budgets for Medicare Issues regulations Sets provider fees Establishes agreements with contractors Social Security Administration (SSA) Processes Medicare applications Issues Medicare cards Provides public information Determines entitlement to Medicare benefits  
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Medicare Card

• Each Medicare Claim Number is unique to the
  beneficiary
• The number has nine digits and a letter
• Card lists effective dates for Part A Part B

Medicare Claim . Letter attached to the claim
indicates how the individual qualifies for
Medicare
Part A B Effective Dates
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Four Parts of Medicare

• Part A Hospital Insurance
• Part B Medical Insurance
• Part C Medicare Advantage Plans
• Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
• FYI Part A B called Original Medicare

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Eligibility 65

• Age 65
• Must be a citizen/lawfully permitted resident for
  5 years AND
• Qualify under ONE of the following 3 conditions
• Be entitled to receive Social Security benefits
  and contributed to the Medicare Tax (having
  earned 40 credits from about 10 years of work)
• Be entitled to receive Railroad Retirement Act
  retiree benefits
• Be a spouse or ex-spouse (marriage lasted at
  least 10 years), widow or widower (age 65) of a
  person who qualifies for Social Security or
  Medicare benefits
• FYI Increase in age for full Social Security
  benefits does NOT affect Medicare

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Eligibility Under 65

• Under 65
• Individuals of any age entitled to Social
  Security (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement Disability
  Insurance benefits for 24 months
• Individuals with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease)
• Individuals with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral
  Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrigs Disease)

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Enrolling In Medicare

• Social Security processes Medicare applications
• Common myth that Medicare will know when a person
  turns 65. This is NOT TRUE
• A person must notify Social Security of their
  intent to enroll in Medicare
• Medicare and Social Security are two entirely
  separate entitlement programs

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Medicare Premiums

• Individuals or their spouses who have paid into
  the Medicare Program and worked at least 40
  quarters DO NOT pay a Part A premium
• This is called premium-free Part A
• EVERYONE pays a Part B premium
• Part B premiums are often deducted from the
  Social Security check
• If not collecting Social Security, will be billed
  every 3 months
• Part A B premiums may change annually

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2014 Part A and B Premiums

• Part A
• People that dont qualify for premium-free
  Medicare may enroll voluntarily and pay a monthly
  premium for Parts A B
• Part A Premiums
• 0-29 work quarters 426/month
• 30-39 work quarters 234/month
• Part B
• Premiums based on annual income (past 2 years tax
  returns)
• Part B Premiums
• Ind lt 85,000 married lt 170,000 104.90/month
• Increases with higher income

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Three Enrollment Types

• Automatic Enrollment
• Standard Enrollment
• Voluntary Enrollment

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Automatic Enrollment

• For individuals already receiving Social Security
  benefits
• Beneficiary receives automatic enrollment notice
  3 months before 65th birthday month (4 months
  before if birthday on 1st of month - Medicare
  begins 1st of month prior to birthday month)
• Individuals with a disability receive notice 24
  months after Social Security Disability payments
  began
• Individual must sign and return card if she/he
  does NOT want Part B

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Standard Enrollment

• Individuals not yet collecting Social Security
  benefits prior to age 65 MUST NOTIFY Social
  Security of intent to enroll in Medicare
  (enrollment is NOT automatic)
• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) 7 month period
  encompassing the full 3 months preceding persons
  65th birthday, the month of the 65th birthday,
  and the full 3 months following the 65th
  birthday
• Must sign up during the first 3 months of IEP to
  get Part B coverage effective 1st of birthday
  month
• If individual waits to sign up until last four
  months of IEP, Part B start date will be delayed

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Voluntary Enrollment

• For individuals who dont have sufficient Social
  Security work credits (40 quarters/10 yrs)
• Can purchase Part A
• Must be an American citizen OR an alien lawfully
  admitted for permanent residence and resided in
  US for 5 consecutive years
• Can purchase Part A AND Part B OR Part B only
• CANNOT have Part A alone as a voluntary enrollee
• Having Part B only does NOT meet the minimum
  essential coverage requirement under the
  Affordable Care Act and beneficiary may have to
  pay a penalty

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Three Enrollment Periods

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) 7 months
  surrounding 65th birthday month (month earlier if
  birthday on 1st of month)
• Date of enrollment determines effective date of
  Medicare
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP) 8 months
  following loss of coverage from active
  employment
• General Enrollment Period (GEP) Jan 1st Mar
  31st of each year
• July 1st effective date

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Initial Enrollment Period
Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period Enrollment Period
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEP SEP OCT OCT NOV DEC
If you enroll during If you enroll during If you enroll during 3 months before the birthday month 3 months before the birthday month 3 months before the birthday month Month of b-day   3 months after the birthday month 3 months after the birthday month 3 months after the birthday month 3 months after the birthday month 3 months after the birthday month    
MEDICARE STARTS MEDICARE STARTS MEDICARE STARTS JULY 1 JULY 1 JULY 1 AUG 1 OCT 1 OCT 1 DEC 1 DEC 1 JAN 1    
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Initial Enrollment Period When Part B Starts
If beneficiary enrolls in this month of IEP Medicare Part B Coverage Starts
1 The month beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare
2 The month beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare
3 The month beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare
4 One month after beneficiary enrolls
5 Two months after beneficiary enrolls
6 Three months after beneficiary enrolls
7 Three months after beneficiary enrolls
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Delaying Part B Enrollment

• Adults over age 65 may choose to have just
  Medicare Part A while they are ACTIVELY working
  or are covered under a spouse who is ACTIVELY
  working
• Once ACTIVE employment coverage has ended, must
  take Part B coverage within 8 months to avoid a
  penalty (there is no 8 month period for retiree
  coverage)
• If the employer has lt20 employees or lt100
  employees if the beneficiary has a disability,
  then the individual may need Part B because
  Medicare should pay first and Employer Group
  Health Plan (EGHP) second
• Beneficiaries should confirm with their employer
  if Part B is needed

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Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
(COBRA)

• When employment and/or EGHP ends, individual can
  elect COBRA coverage which continues health
  coverage through employers plan (in most cases
  for only 18 months) and probably at a higher cost
• If elect COBRA, should NOT wait until COBRA ends
  to enroll in Part B or will pay a late enrollment
  penalty and will have to wait until the next
  General Enrollment Period to enroll
• Must sign up for B within the first 8 months (SEP
  after ACTIVE work) of COBRA to avoid penalty
• Should enroll in Part B because Medicare pays
  first and COBRA pays second

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Late Enrollment Penalty

• Penalty for Part A Capped at 10 of premium
  and goes away after penalized for twice the
  length of time the person delayed enrollment
• For voluntary enrollees (paying for A) who dont
  enroll in Part A when initially eligible
• Penalty for Part B 10 of premium for each full
  12 month period the individual delayed enrollment
• Penalty for Part B not capped and is a lifetime
  penalty except
• Under 65 beneficiaries with a penalty will have
  the penalty removed and will have a clean slate
  when they turn 65

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Initial Enrollment Example

• Mr. Kaplan is turning 65 on August 29th. His
  first opportunity to enroll in Medicare based on
  his age (not disability) is May 1st . His
  initial enrollment period lasts until November
  30th. The month he enrolls determines the
  effective date of coverage

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Special Enrollment Example

• Mrs. White continued working after age 65 and was
  covered by an employer-related group medical
  plan. She chose to enroll in Part A when she
  turned 65 (because she does not have to pay a
  premium) but delayed Part B enrollment. Her
  Special Enrollment Period will be the 8 month
  period following the month she is no longer
  covered by her employers plan or her employment
  ends, whichever comes first

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General Enrollment Example

• Mr. Santos retires at age 65 and declines
  Medicare Part B. At age 70, Mr. Santos wants to
  purchase Part B. He must wait until the General
  Enrollment Period (January 1st - March 31st ) for
  coverage that begins the following July. Mr.
  Santos will have a 50 penalty added to his Part
  B premium (10 for each 12 month period he
  delayed Part B enrollment)

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Medicare Part A(Hospital Insurance)
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Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

• Part A Covers
• Inpatient hospital care
• Care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF)
• Home health care
• Hospice care
• Blood

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In-patient Hospital Coverage

• In-patient hospital coverage requirements
• Doctor determines it is medically necessary
• Care requires being in a hospital
• Hospital participates with Medicare
• Utilization Review Committee of the hospital
  approves the stay

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In-Patient Hospital Coverage

• Covered days in a hospital
• 90 renewable days
• Medicare pays 100 for days 1-60 in a benefit
  period AFTER beneficiary pays Part A deductible
• Daily co-payment for days 61-90 in a benefit
  period
• 60 non-renewable days
• Daily co-payment for days 91-150 (lifetime
  reserve days)

• A benefit period is a period of time that
  Medicare pays for a persons care in a hospital
  or SNF. It begins when a beneficiary goes into
  the hospital and ends when she/he has been out of
  the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60
  consecutive days

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In-Patient Hospital Covered Services

• Services covered during a hospital stay
• Semi-private room and all meals
• Special care units
• General nursing services
• Drugs administered in the hospital
• Lab tests
• Radiology services

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In-Patient Hospital Covered Services, cont.

• Services covered during a hospital stay
• Medical supplies (casts, surgical dressings)
• Operating and recovery rooms
• Rehabilitation services (physical therapy)
• Use of appliances (wheelchairs)
• Blood transfusion (after first 3 pints)

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In-Patient Hospital Services NOT Covered

• Services NOT covered during a hospital stay
• Physician services (Part B)
• Personal convenience items
• Private room (unless medically necessary)
• First three pints of blood
• Private duty nursing

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Hospital Coverage

• Other hospital coverage
• Care in a psychiatric hospital
• 190 lifetime days for in-patient care
• Care in a foreign hospital
• Medicare usually does NOT pay for care outside
  the United States
• Medicare MAY pay for qualified care in a Mexican
  or Canadian hospital under special conditions

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Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Coverage

• Must be a Medicare participating facility
• Physician must certify that patients needs and
  receives daily skilled care from RN or therapist
• Prior in-patient hospital stay of 3 days or more
  (72 hours as an admitted patient)
• An overnight stay doesnt always mean an
  in-patient day (can be observation day)
• Break in skilled care that lasts more than 30
  days will require a new 3 day hospital stay to
  qualify for additional SNF care
• Admitted to SNF within 30 days of discharge from
  hospital

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SNF Covered Days

• 100 renewable days
• Days 1-20 Medicare pays 100 in a
  benefit period
• Except convenience items
• Days 21 100 Daily co-payment

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SNF Covered Services

• Services covered in a SNF
• Semi-private room
• All meals (including special diets)
• General nursing services
• Rehabilitation services
• Drugs furnished by the SNF during the stay
• Use of medical equipment and supplies

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SNF Services NOT Covered

• Services NOT covered in a SNF
• Physician services (Part B)
• Personal convenience items
• Private room (unless medically necessary)

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2014 Part A Out-of-Pocket Costs

• Inpatient hospital care
• Days 1-60 1216 deductible (per benefit period)
• Days 61-90 304 per day
• Days 91-150 (Lifetime Reserve Days) 608 per
  day
• All additional days All costs
• Skilled Nursing Facility care
• Days 1-20 Nothing
• Days 21-100 152 per day
• Durable Medical Equipment
• 20 of approved amount
• Hospice Care
• Small co-pays for inpatient respite care and
  drugs
• Home Health Care
• Nothing

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Medicare Part A Benefit Period Example

• Benefit period Example 1
• Mr. Jones is hospitalized as an in-patient on
  January 5th and remains in the hospital until
  January 12th. Mr. Jones has used 8 of his
  hospital days in the benefit period. (Day of
  discharge counts.) Mr. Jones has 82 hospital
  days left in the benefit period
• How much would Mr. Jones have to pay for his
  hospital stay?

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Medicare Part A Benefit Period Example

• Benefit period Example 2
• Mr. Jones is discharged from the hospital on
  January 12th and transferred to a SNF where he
  remains until February 9th. Mr. Jones used 29
  days of his SNF benefit. He has 71 days left
• How much would Mr. Jones have to pay for his
  Skilled Nursing Facility care?

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Home Health Benefit

• Home health benefit coverage requirements
• Must need skilled care on intermittent basis
• Home health agency must be Medicare-approved
• Physician must authorize treatment and have
  face-to-face meeting with beneficiary prior to
  start
• Beneficiary must be homebound (see next slide)
• Medicare pays 100 for all covered and medically
  necessary home health services
• EXCEPTION Medicare pays 80 of durable
  equipment

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Homebound

• Homebound means normally unable to leave home or
  that leaving home is a major effort and must
• Require a supportive device, or
• Use of special transportation, or
• Require the assistance of another person
• Can leave home, but it must be infrequent and for
  a short time.
• Examples Leave to get medical care (may include
  adult day care), attend a religious service, get
  a haircut

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Home Health Benefit Covered Services

• Services covered by home health benefit
• Skilled nursing care
• Physical, occupational, or speech therapy
• Medical social services (dietary counseling)
• Care by home health aide (bathing, changing
  dressing)
• Medical supplies
• Equipment (20 co-insurance)

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Home Health Benefit Services NOT covered

• Services NOT covered by home health benefit
• Drugs
• Homemaker services
• Home delivered meals
• Personal care (without skilled care)

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Hospice

• Hospice Coverage
• Physician must certify that beneficiary is
  terminally ill and expected to live 6 months or
  less
• Beneficiary has elected to receive comfort and
  pain relief care from Hospice instead of medical
  treatment for cure
• Care is provided by Medicare certified hospice
  program

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Hospice

• Covered benefit period for Hospice Care
• Two 90-day periods
• Then unlimited 60-day periods
• Face-to-face meeting with doctor required
• While receiving Hospice Care
• Medicare pays 100 of most services
• Beneficiary only pays small co-payment for
  out-patient drugs and respite care

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Blood

• Coverage of blood
• Medicare pays 100 after the first 3 pints of
  blood
• The 3 pint blood deductible can be met under Part
  A or Part B
• Wont have to pay for it or replace blood if
  hospital gets it free from a blood bank

55
Utilization Review Committee

• Reviews patient stays in hospitals and SNFs to
  determine if patient meets Medicare standard for
  needing care in hospital setting
• Each patients doctor must satisfy the URC that
  patient meets admission criteria and continues to
  need acute hospital level of care
• Has authority to terminate Medicares obligation
  to pay for medical services in hospital or SNF
• Determines patient time of discharge

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Hospital Discharge

• Discharge Plan
• Beneficiaries should be an active part of their
  discharge plan
• Beneficiary should be given written discharge
  plan at least 24 hours prior to discharge
• Beneficiary signs plan to acknowledge receipt
  (Signature does not mean beneficiary agrees the
  plan is appropriate)
• If unsatisfied with plan, the beneficiary can
  appeal
• Beneficiary should ask for written Notice of
  Non-Coverage and appeal if appropriate to Dept.
  of Public Health

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Medicare Part A Review

• Review
• What are the two major federal agencies involved
  with the Medicare Program and what is each of
  their roles?
• Who can enroll in Medicare?
• When can someone enroll in Medicare?
• Does someone have to enroll in both parts of
  Medicare (A B)?
• What is a benefit period?

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Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
59
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

• Physicians Services
• Out-patient hospital services
• Durable medical equipment
• Prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies
• Ambulance
• Home health care (if not Part A)
• Blood (if not Part A)

60
Medicare Part B Important Terms

• Medicare approved amount Fee Medicare sets for
  Medicare covered service
• Excess charges Amount owed by beneficiary above
  the Medicare approved amount. In other states,
  there is a limit on excess charges of 15
• Ban on Balanced Billing Massachusetts has a law
  prohibiting excess charges by physicians
• Accepting Assignment Accepting the Medicare
  approved amount as payment in full
• Participating Provider Signing an agreement
  saying you agree to accept assignment for all
  beneficiaries in all cases (non-participating
  less important in MA)

61
2014 Part B Out-of-Pocket Costs

• Monthly Part B Standard Premium
• 104.90/month
• Premiums based on modified adjusted gross income
  for an individual those with higher annual
  incomes pay higher Part B premiums
• Annual Deductible
• 147

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2014 Part B Out-of-Pocket Costs, Cont.

• After the yearly deductible is met, beneficiary
  pays
• Doctor office visits 20 co-payment
• Diagnostic tests Nothing
• Outpatient therapy 20 co-payment
• Outpatient mental health 20 co-payment
• DME 20 co-payment PLUS balance on bill
• DME is sole area in which the provider can bill
  over and above the Medicare-approved amount
  (Balance Billing)
• Emergency Ambulance 20 co-payment
• Outpatient Hospital Services Fixed amount
  determined by Medicare

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Physician Services

• Physicians services covered
• Exams
• DOES NOT include routine annual physicals
• Welcome to Medicare Exam
• 1x only exam within first 12 months of joining
  Part B
• Annual Wellness Visit
• Discussion with doctor to develop prevention plan
  to improve health, routine measurements height,
  weight, blood pressure
• Medical and surgical procedures, anesthesia,
  diagnostic tests and procedures
• Radiology and pathology services (in or out of
  the hospital)

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Physician Services, cont.

• Physicians services covered, cont.
• Drugs that cannot be self administered
• Blood transfusions
• Second opinion about recommended surgery
• Physicians services which may be partially
  covered
• Chiropractors services
• Podiatrists services
• Optometrists services
• Dentists services

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Physician Services

• Physicians services NOT covered
• Most routine physical exams and tests related to
  such exams
• Most routine foot care
• Exams for the fitting of hearing aids
• Exams for eyeglasses (except cataract related)
• Most routine dental care or false teeth

66
Physician Services

• Physicians services NOT covered, cont.
• Acupuncture
• Cosmetic surgery (unless related to a
  degenerative disease or accident)
• Experimental medical procedures
• Any other service not considered by Medicare to
  be medically reasonable or necessary

67
Sample of Medicares Preventive Benefits

• Bone mass density testing
• Annual prostate cancer screening test
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Blood sugar testing equipment and training for
  managing diabetes
• Immunization (flu, pneumonia and hepatitis B)
• Annual Screening Glaucoma Screening for people at
  high risk
• Cardiovascular Screening Blood Tests
• Diabetes Screening Tests

68
Out-Patient Services

• Out-patient hospital services
• Partial hospitalization services, day surgery,
  radiology, stitches, cast application
• Clinical diagnostic lab services
• Orthotics, prosthetics, take home surgical
  dressings
• Chronic dialysis
• Out-patient rehab services (physical therapy,
  speech therapy, pathology, occupational therapy)

69
Out-patient Mental Health Services

• Medicare covers treatment by following providers
• Doctor, clinical psychologist, clinical social
  worker, clinical nurse specialist, nurse
  practitioner, physicians assistant
• Medicare covers out-patient mental health
  services at the following settings
• Clinic, doctors office, other therapists
  office, out-patient hospital department (partial
  hospitalization), community mental health centers
  
• Partial Hospitalization
• Structured program of active treatment more
  intense than care in a therapists or doctors
  office

70
Ambulance Coverage

• Medicare covers ambulance service when transport
  in another vehicle would endanger health
• Will pay for transport from home to hospital/SNF
  or from hospital/SNF to home
• Medicare will NOT pay for ambulance used as
  routine transportation

71
Durable Medical Equipment (DME)

• Medicare helps pay for DME if
• It is prescribed by a physician
• It is medically necessary
• It fills a medical need (more than convenience)
• It is appropriate for use in the home
• It can be used over and over again

72
Durable Medical Equipment

• DME Medicare Coverage
• Prosthetic Devices Medicare Part B helps pay
  for prosthetic devices needed to replace a
  missing or defective body part (corrective lenses
  after cataract surgery, ostomy bags, breast
  prosthesis after mastectomy, artificial limbs and
  eyes)
• Orthotics Medicare Part B helps pay for braces
  and other similar devices (spinal braces, knee
  braces, back modules)
• Supplies Medicare Part B helps pay for supplies
  such as diabetic supplies, oxygen, and surgical
  dressings

73
Durable Medical Equipment

• What Medicare pays for DME
• Medicare pays 80 of Medicare approved amount
• If the supplier accepts assignment, beneficiary
  pays 20
• If supplier does NOT accept assignment,
  beneficiary pays 20 PLUS difference between what
  Medicare approves and supplier charges
• Supplier is required to bill Medicare
• Beneficiary can buy or rent DME

74
Medicare Part B Review

• Review
• What kinds of services does Part B cover?
• What out of pocket expenses does a beneficiary
  have for Part B services?
• What is assignment?
• What is a participating provider?
• What are excess charges?
• What is the Ban on Balanced Billing?

75
Medicare A/B Quiz

• Describe Medicares Enrollment Types
• Mr. Hoover comes to ask about his mothers
  hospitalization. His mother has been hospitalized
  for 62 days. His mother has no insurance other
  than Medicare.
• After Medicare pays, what part of the bill is her
  responsibility?
• If she is discharged, but is readmitted 10 days
  later and stays for 10 days, what additional
  amount of money will she owe?
• If she stays an additional 40 days instead of 10
  days, what additional amount of money will she
  owe?

76
Medicare A/B Quiz

• List the gaps in Medicare Part B coverage
• Mr. Smith comes to see you at the Council on
  Aging (COA) office. He will be retiring soon and
  living on a limited income. His understanding is
  that he can get by with just Medicare AB
  coverage.
• What would you tell him about having Medicare AB
  coverage only?
• What is the current monthly premium for Medicare
  Part B?
• Medicare does cover an annual physical True or
  False

77
Case Study 1Hal

• Hal will celebrate his 65th birthday in a couple
  of months. He just received his Medicare Initial
  Enrollment Package from the Social Security
  Administration. While he has a general
  understanding of Medicare Part A, Hal doesnt
  feel well informed about Medicare Part B.
• What information would you provide Hal?

78
Case Study 2George Bell

• George Bell is a 64 year old man who will soon be
  reaching his 65th birthday. George is so busy
  with a full-time career that his plans for
  retirement are far in the future. George will
  continue employment with a major corporation
  beyond his 65th birthday.
• What should he do about Medicare enrollment and
  his current group health insurance?

79
Case Study 3Agnus

• Agnus is 64 years old and has been divorced for
  15 years. Agnus married soon after high school
  and was a full-time homemaker. Until 5 years ago,
  Agnus had never worked outside the home. For the
  past 5 years she has worked for the Red Dye
  Company. She will be retiring in 4 months when
  she turns 65. The benefits administrator of the
  Red Dye Company told Agnus that she will not be
  eligible for Social Security or Medicare since
  she has not worked for a full 10 years.
• Is this true?
• What would you tell Agnus?

80
Case Study 4Sam Pan

• Sam calls for assistance with understanding
  Medicare. He tells you he is 59, has been on
  SSDI for 23 months and will be eligible for
  Medicare in a couple of months. From what he
  could figure out, he understands he can sign up
  for Part A but does not need to enroll in Part B
  at this time because he is covered under his
  spouses coverage. His spouse, John, works
  full-time and has excellent coverage for both of
  them through his employer plan. John is 63 and
  plans to retire in 3 years. They will then have
  the option of the companys retiree coverage, so
  Sam plans to pick up Part B at that time. He
  wants confirmation that hes correct in his
  understanding of Medicare.
• What information would you provide to Sam?

81
Case Study 5Leann Washington

• Leann Washington lives in Massachusetts. She goes
  to see Dr. Franklin in her town who does not
  accept assignment. Ms. Washington is required to
  pay the entire bill of 150. When she receives
  the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), she notices
  that the Medicare approved amount is 100. She
  wants to know what the exact amount is that
  Medicare will pay and the amount that is her
  responsibility? She explains that she has already
  met her Part B annual deductible.
• What would Ms. Washington owe if she lived in
  Florida?

82
Case Study 6Mrs. Joan Carroll

• Mrs. Carroll called the SHINE office for help on
  June 1st for help with a problem. Mr. Carroll,
  much to his wifes dismay, refused to sign up for
  Medicare Part B when he was initially eligible.
  He is very proud of the fact that he has only
  spent 1,000 for medical care in the last 3
  years. As he repeatedly told his wife, that is
  cheaper than paying the Part B premium for the
  last 3 years.
• Mr. Carroll now needs to have surgery. His wife
  is beginning to realize some of the problems
  involved as a result of an uninformed decision he
  made three years ago.
• List the problems he now will face

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Case Study 7Ruth Rose

• Ruth Rose comes to see you at the SHINE office.
  She says that she will be 65 in 5 months. She
  will continue to work and is covered by her
  employer group plan. She does not want to sign up
  for Medicare. However, her friend Rhoda told her
  that if he does not sign up now, she will not be
  able to get Medicare later.
• What information would you give her?

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Homework Assignment

• Call Medicare (1-800-633-4227) with the
  following question
• I (or my client) am having day surgery. What is
  my financial obligation/responsibility?