Starting Sunday, free and objective counseling will be made available to older New Yorkers that free and objective counseling is available to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate their options during the Medicare open enrollment period. The counseling will be available through December 7th.
Open enrollment is the time when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes in their health plan or prescription drug coverage and other options. Any changes take effect on January 1.
The NYSOFA-administered Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) helps 248,000 New Yorkers annually to understand Medicare decisions. It also helps beneficiaries apply for programs that save older adults out-of-pocket costs such as co-payments, premiums and deductibles. Last year, HIICAP saved low-income Medicare beneficiaries an estimated $115 million through these programs. HIICAP counseling has also been shown to reduce hospitalizations by 54% and emergency room visits by 14%. This free and objective assistance is provided locally by trained counselors. For assistance, call the helpline at 1-800-701-0501. More information about HIICAP is on NYSOFA’s website.
For income-eligible older adults, HIICAP is also available during open enrollment – and throughout the year – to assist in the application process for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). The MSP was expanded in 2023 to help an additional 300,000 Medicare beneficiaries who may be potentially eligible to save up to an estimated $7,300 in Medicare-related health costs annually.
The MSP helps older adults and people with disabilities living on limited incomes by paying their Medicare Part B premiums and automatically enrolls them in Extra Help. This financial assistance can be a lifeline for enrollees, allowing them to maintain their Medicare coverage, access needed care, and afford other necessities. Learn more about this program, and how to enroll, on NYSOFA’s MSP information page here, including a video tutorial about the application process.
HIICAP in Detail
During open enrollment, or at any time of the year, HIICAP can help you:
- Understand the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D) and how to select the best plan.
- Understand low-income subsidy programs, including Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs.
- Find ways to pay for your medications or medical equipment.
- Understand and apply for the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program.
- Choose between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
- Understand Medicare rules and your medical bills.
- Report possible Medicare fraud or abuse.
- Provide information on how to appeal a decision by Medicare, your managed care provider, or other health insurance company.
- Discover ways to fill in Medicare’s gaps.
- Learn how to file a Medicare or Medigap complaint.
- Learn about Medicare-covered prevention and screenings.
Protecting Yourself
Medicare experts report a higher risk of potential fraud during the open-enrollment period as well as potentially misleading marketing. Medicare has rules about how plans can and cannot communicate with you to market their insurance products. The Medicare Rights Center offers the following warnings:
- Plans are allowed to send you mail. However, unless you are currently enrolled in the company’s plan, they are not allowed to call, email, visit your home, or approach you in public to market their plan without your permission.
- Beware of people who pressure about making plan changes, claim to be representing Medicare, or attempt to alarm you about losing benefits unless you enroll in a particular plan.
- Beneficiaries who believe they are a victim of fraud or identity theft should contact Medicare. More information is available at medicare.gov.
