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Kansas City, MO —
To the editor:
One every eight seconds – that’s how many baby boomers will reach age 65 during the next 10 years. That’s about 10,000 boomers becoming eligible for Medicare each day. They will join 49 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, many of whom struggle to understand the program, according to a 2011 survey from UnitedHealthcare and the National Council on Aging. Most survey respondents were not able to accurately identify what each part (A, B, C and D) of Medicare covers, and nearly 20 percent of respondents enrolled in Medicare said they didn’t know what type of coverage they had.
With the Medicare-eligible population set to skyrocket, and given the ongoing debate about the future of the program, the need for clear Medicare information is greater than ever. During National Medicare Education Week – Sept. 15-22 – baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries (including 107,200 in the Kansas City area), their families and caregivers have the opportunity to learn more about their health-care coverage options. By taking the time to get educated now, beneficiaries may feel better prepared to make decisions during the Medicare open enrollment period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7).
Visit NMEW.com or MedicareMadeClear.com for educational resources and information about free educational events in Kansas City. Explore Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for more information about the Medicare program. You can also visit your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program office for one-on-one counseling.
I encourage everyone to think about their friends and loved ones enrolled in Medicare and the role they can play in helping their loved ones with their health-care coverage decisions.
To the editor:
One every eight seconds – that’s how many baby boomers will reach age 65 during the next 10 years. That’s about 10,000 boomers becoming eligible for Medicare each day. They will join 49 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, many of whom struggle to understand the program, according to a 2011 survey from UnitedHealthcare and the National Council on Aging. Most survey respondents were not able to accurately identify what each part (A, B, C and D) of Medicare covers, and nearly 20 percent of respondents enrolled in Medicare said they didn’t know what type of coverage they had.
With the Medicare-eligible population set to skyrocket, and given the ongoing debate about the future of the program, the need for clear Medicare information is greater than ever. During National Medicare Education Week – Sept. 15-22 – baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries (including 107,200 in the Kansas City area), their families and caregivers have the opportunity to learn more about their health-care coverage options. By taking the time to get educated now, beneficiaries may feel better prepared to make decisions during the Medicare open enrollment period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7).
Visit NMEW.com or MedicareMadeClear.com for educational resources and information about free educational events in Kansas City. Explore Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for more information about the Medicare program. You can also visit your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program office for one-on-one counseling.
I encourage everyone to think about their friends and loved ones enrolled in Medicare and the role they can play in helping their loved ones with their health-care coverage decisions.
