Medicare enrollment underway through Dec. 7

Oct. 16--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- This year's federal Medicare open enrollment period began Monday and eligible individuals age 65 and older have through December 7 to enroll or change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage effective January 1.

And coming November 1: Open Medicaid enrollment begins through HealthSource RI, the state's official marketplace for health-insurance coverage. This year's enrollment period will continue through the end of December.

Acknowledging in a blog post Monday that Medicare choices "can be overwhelming" for some individuals, the federal program announced an online survey to help guide in selecting from among Original Medicare coverage, Parts A and B; the Medicare Advantage Plan, Part C; and a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Part D.

The survey, at www.medicare.gov/medicarecoverageoptions, poses five "simple questions about your health care needs, preferences, and lifestyle. Based on your responses, you'll get personalized recommendations for the type of Medicare coverage that might work best for you." An 80-second instructional video is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eLVppsm24.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is among the firms offering Medicare Advantage plans for 2019. Its plans "recognize the importance Rhode Island seniors place on staying well," executive Corey McCarty said in a media release. "We have a responsibility to provide a health plan that helps them do that, and one that is a great value."

More information is at available at www.rhodeahead.com/medicare. The AARP with UnitedHealthcare also offers plans; learn more at http://bit.ly/2CMYFZt

As with Medicare, deciding on insurance options available through HealthSource RI -- created as Rhode Island's response to the Affordable Care Act -- can be difficult, and the state's marketplace, one of 12 in the U.S., also offers help in making those decisions. HealthSource RI offers health coverage through Neighborhood Health Plan and BCBSRI, and dental coverage through Blue Cross Dental, Delta Dental and Dentegra.

As of Sunday, 31,484 Rhode Islanders were enrolled in HealthSource RI's individual market program, according to spokeswoman Kyrie Perry. From January to September, Perry said, "HealthSource RI connected Rhode Islanders with $72,342,485 in federal financial assistance to make coverage more affordable."

On average, Perry said, customers received $300.95 in tax credits and paid $118.96 for their premium per month.

"Rhode Island has the fourth highest insured rate nationwide and the third best for kids," director Zachary Sherman told The Journal. "Since the launch of HealthSource RI, we have decreased the uninsured rate by nearly two thirds. This year, HealthSource RI has the lowest benchmark plan price in the country. This Open Enrollment our aim is to expand access to health coverage to those who do not have it by allowing Rhode Islanders to enroll how they want, when they want and where they want."

Among the ways consumers can get help:

-- Make an appointment to drop by HealthSourceRI, 401 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence.

-- Meet with a community "navigator."

-- Call 1-855-840-4774; for employers and employees, 1-855-683-6757.

-- Attend one of the "enrollment events" scheduled for North Kingstown, Tiverton, Warwick, Westerly, Woonsocket and other communities.

For more on these events and other information and tools: https://healthsourceri.com/

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