Allsup Outlines 10 Essential Questions People Need to Ask when Evaluating Medi... (e you visit the doctor. 9. ...)

Allsup Outlines 10 Essential Questions People Need to Ask when Evaluating Medicare Plans

Date:12/17/2008

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9. How are the plans rated?

In evaluating plans, it's important to consider their overall quality. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rates the plans based on a variety of factors, including how well the plans perform in detecting and preventing illness, how quickly plan participants can see physicians, how well the plan helps people with chronic conditions and how well a plan handles appeals.

10. What if I don't make any choice?

If you are already enrolled in a plan, you will be automatically re-enrolled. The majority of individuals continue to be in traditional Medicare. Many may benefit from savings offered by Medicare Advantage plans.

However, if you are not enrolled in a Medicare plan, but are eligible to participate and do not enroll, the consequences can be more costly. Specifically, if you don't sign up for Medicare Part B (physician) when originally eligible, there is a premium surcharge, or penalty, of 10 percent for each 12-month period you could have had it, but didn't. This charge begins after you sign up for Part B coverage, and the costs can really add up--you must pay the extra surcharge for as long as you have Part B.

There is a similar late enrollment penalty for not joining a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan if you later decide to get Part D coverage. This will result in a higher premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.

"As people go through the list of different criteria, it's important they identify their priorities," Gada said. "For example, if they want to see a particular doctor or they need prescription drug coverage during the Medicare donut hole--they can use these priorities to zero in o
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