Some seniors get erroneous letters saying Medicare benefits being cut off

Dec. 04--GREENVILLE -- A local legislator wants Mercer County seniors to know that their Medicare benefits are safe.

For unknown reasons, possibly thousands of senior citizens received letters from the Social Security Administration falsely stating that their Medicare Part B state buy-in, or state-funded health insurance, had been terminated, state Sen. Michele Brooks said.

Some Mercer County residents have received the letters, Brooks added.

Medicare Part B covers doctor visits and preventative care. Without state funding, the money is deducted from beneficiaries' Social Security checks, she said.

However, there is no cause for alarm because the state is not withdrawing services or terminating coverage, the state senator said.

Brooks said she is working with the Department of Human Services and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, whose office has received many calls on the issue.

DHS officials said cases that have been incorrectly closed will be re-established with buy-in eligibility, according to a press release from Brooks' office. If the premium is inadvertently deducted from beneficiary's Social Security check, the money will be reimbursed.

At this time, no one is sure why this happened, but the problem goes back to the state, said Thomas Qualtere, Kelly's communications director.

He said constituents who have called the office have been asked to contact the Statewide Customer Service Center at 877-395-8930, which will be able to directly address the problem.

"For expediency and efficiency, this is the best number," Qualtere said.

Those impacted by the letter can also contact Brooks' Greenville office at 724-588-8911, or email her at [email protected].

"I am concerned that Medicare recipients are being unduly alarmed right before the holidays about this letter, which is understandably causing concern," Brooks said in a press release. "We immediately took the initiative to determine why these letters were sent and to rectify it."

Follow Natalie Eastwood on Facebook or Twitter @natalie_herald. Email her at [email protected].

___

(c)2017 The Herald (Sharon,Pa)

Visit The Herald (Sharon,Pa) at www.sharonherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.