Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Tips For Medicare's Open Enrollment Season
Tribune: 5 Things To Know About Open Enrollment For Medicare
Every year seniors must go through the complicated process of "open enrollment" for Medicare supplements and Part D prescription drug insurance. The basic Medicare Part A and Part B coverages remain the same for all seniors every year, although premiums likely rise, and "high income" seniors will this year pay a significantly higher surcharge for Part B. Medicare supplements and Part D prescription drug insurance are more difficult to choose and require more work to compare. You can probably keep the same supplement each year unless you move out of state. But you should revisit Part D every year during open enrollment even if your meds haven't changed, because the drugs covered, prices and co-payments change annually. Here are five things to know when choosing a supplement or Part D coverage. (Savage, 10/26)
The San Antonio Express News: ‘Alphabet Soup’ Of Health Benefits Confusing To Many
Many consumers are confused by the “alphabet soup” of health insurance acronyms. What’s a PPO? What’s an HMO? How about an EPO or a POS? When it comes to what the IRS calls tax-favored health plans, the navigation gets even tougher for the uninitiated. What’s an HSA? How is that different from an FSA and an HRA? (O'Hare, 10/26)
