MnSF launches major Medicare Part D education effort

In light of the unprecedented need to receive quality, unbiased information about the changes in Medicare in 2006, the Senior Federation is undertaking a statewide consumer education campaign.

The new 2006 Preview Edition of Health Care Choices is now available. The Campaign starts with the 2006 Medicare Prescription Drug Preview and supplement to Health Care Choices for Minnesota Seniors, which is being sent to all Senior Federation members as an insert to this issue of the Minnesota Senior News. The preview edition is a 64-page guide to all your health plan and Medicare Part D options designed exclusively for Minnesota seniors.

If you are not a Federation member, you can order the 2006 Preview Edition of Health Care Choices from the Federation for $8 (includes postage and handling).

Medicare Part D Forums and Presentations: Statewide Federation outreach workers and volunteers have been conducting educational presentations and providing one-to-one Part D assistance with much energy and commitment. Thousands of seniors, family members and senior professionals have been educated so far and many more events have been scheduled. (Click here to see the MnSF calendar that includes currently scheduled Part D forums and presentations.)

The Federation is also undertaking a statewide Medicare Part D community education campaign as the lead organization of the Access to Benefits Coalition, a collaboration of many of the leading senior social service organizations across the state including Area Agencies on Aging, Lutheran Social Service, Adult Day Services Association, Alzheimer’s Association, Council of Black Minnesotans, Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Elderberry Institute, Volunteers of America-Minnesota and the Wilder Foundation.

Starting Oct. 31, MnSF-Metro Region and the ABC Coalition are sponsoring a series of Medicare Part D Forums which will include a Medicare Part D presentation and the presence of individual health plan vendors and the Social Security Administration representatives to answer your specific plan or Part D questions or concerns. The 2006 Preview Edition of Health Care Choices will also be available at all forums and presentations along with refreshments. The forums and most presentations are free and open to the public. You do not need to be a Senior Federation member to attend.

Click on the "Calendar" link on the top of this page for a calendar that includes currently scheduled metro-area Medicare Part D forums and presentations. For presentations in your area, call your regional Federation office (Click "Regional Offices" above for contact information.). Be sure to attend at least one of these events before making a decision about Medicare Part D and your Medicare plan options for 2006. Feel free to bring a friend or relative with you to the forums or any of the presentations.

Personal Counseling and Assistance. Minnesota Senior Federation in collaboration with the State Health Insurance Counseling Program is also providing one-to-one assistance in making a decision if you should take out Medicare Part D and, if so, which plan or plans could best meet your needs. Neither the Senior Federation nor any of the SHIP counseling centers sells or promotes any specific health option or plan, so you can be sure of getting the best available objective advice. For one-to-one phone counseling, call Senior Linkage Line (800/333-2433) or the Federation’s Health Plan Information Center (877/645-0261 or 651/645-0261 ext. 145). You can also call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE. When you call, make sure you know what your current supplemental coverage is, whether or not you currently have drug coverage, what your current prescription drugs are and approximately how much you are currently spending on prescription drugs. If you think you may qualify for additional Medicare Part D benefits because of modest income and assets (see page 5) also know what your income and liquid assets are.

Public Television Special on Medicare Part D. In partnership with Minnesota Senior Federation and the National Institute on Health Policy at St Thomas University, Twin Cities Public Television will be producing an hour-long special on Medicare Part D to be aired in late November. The special will be hosted by former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger and produced and co-hosted by Fred De Sam Lazaro, reporter and producer for Leher NewsHour on PBS.

The TPT2 special will include profiles of persons who are trying to make a decision about Medicare Part D, interviews at the Oct. 31 Medicare Part D Forum at the Brooklyn Park Community Center, and a town hall forum at the TPT2 studios. It will be made available to public television stations throughout Minnesota. Check local listings or www.mnseniors.org for exact times. In addition, a special DVD of the production and supplemental materials is expected to be available for showing to senior residences and community groups after Dec. 1. Watch for more information in the next Senior News.

Call the Minnesota Senior Federation office
651/645-0261 or 800/365-8765
to join and receive the 2006 Preview Edition of Health Care Choices free
or to order it for $8 without membership