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Anchor: A lot to talk about on the show, but let's talk about something that's
coming up that's, quite frankly, pressing. There is a deadline. The annual
enrollment period for Medicare enrollment is now through December 7. So, you have
got until December 7, a little less than a month, to evaluate your Medicare options
and make some changes to the plan that you're in. Let's get some insight. John
Van Wart is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Peoples Health. John,
good morning.
Van Wart: Thank you. You, too, Matt, nice to meet you.
Anchor: Pleasure to have you here.
Anchor: This is one of those times of year when the clock is ticking and you all do a
lot of advertising to let seniors know the clock is ticking and you have to evaluate
your options. What options should people be looking for?
Van Wart: Sure, that's a good question, and this is the time of year to be asking
that question. The people on Medicare, those folks who have a red, white, and
blue card for Medicare, Medicare Insurance, hospital and medical
insurance, allows those folks, 48 million Americans, to choose a Medicare
Advantage plan between October 7 and, October 15th and December 7th. So, they
evaluate their Medicare Advantage options and this is the time of year to do
that.
Anchor: Alright, let's talk about some ground rules. First of all, if you like the
plan you've got, you do nothing. You don't have to fill out a form to re-register
or anything. If you like the plan you're in, you just sit tight. Correct?
Van Wart: Exactly correct.
Anchor: OK. What are some things, John, that you think people - seniors - need to
look at as they evaluate their plan, what do they need to look for? What are the
things they need to say this is an option I need to consider.
Van Wart: Sure, you want to compare co-payments from plan to plan. Obviously
if you're in original Medicare there are deductibles, there's co-payments, you
need to purchase a Medicare supplement or MediGap policy - they're expensive.
You have to also purchase a Part D plan for drug coverage or you can compare
the Medicare Advantage option which some 13 - 14 million Americans have
chosen. So, really pay attention to the plan benefit, the network of providers, the
doctors within that plan.
Anchor: Boy, that's a lot to consider, isn't it?
Van Wart: Sure is, yeah.
Anchor: Do you all find that at Peoples Health that people just get overwhelmed?
They just get overwhelmed. Seniors are sitting there saying, "Oh my goodness!
It's so much to consider!" Especially for first time enrollees, correct?
Van Wart: Correct. It is what it is. Like I said, there's 48 million Americans on
Medicare. 13 - 14 million Americans have chosen Medicare Advantage.
Medicare.gov is a great website to visit. The toll-free 1-800-MEDICARE. Obviously
visit us at peopleshealth.com. But we have professionals that can help that
decision easier, be made a lot easier.
Anchor: Let's talk specifically about some of the things you all offer. You all have
something called people, I'm sorry, Choices Select. It's an HMO plan. It was
available only in a few parishes in eastern Louisiana, but y'all have expanded that
now, correct?
Van Wart: We have. Yes, Matt. We are now proud to be serving, proudly serving
23 parishes here in southeast Louisiana, greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge area,
and the bayou area. We have plans available for folks who are on Medicare
and Medicaid or folks who are just on Medicare. We have 50,000 members here
in southeast Louisiana and looking forward to helping out other people on
Medicare.
Anchor: You offer still some $0 premium options. So, what I'm seeing here is you
have a lot of flexibility.
Van Wart: Yes. We do. We have a $0 plan premium available, there's no monthly fee.
There are low co-payments along the way and it's a different way to get your health
care then through original Medicare which is a lot more expensive.
Anchor: Let's go back to the beginning of our conversation. To be eligible for
Medicare, you must be 65. So, you all can help people who have never been on
Medicare who are contemplating what decision to make for the first time or for
those who are looking to renew or change plans, you have 'til December 7 either
way.
Van Wart: Correct. And to be specific it's a red, white, and blue card, Medicare card
and actually you can be on Medicare at any age, Matt, most folks are 65 or older.
You could be disabled. Yeah, there are some disabled folks. Correct.
Anchor: ...Oh, OK, that's true, I forgot about disabilities and things. Sorry about
that. OK.
Van Wart: And probably out of 100 Americans on Medicare, probably 20
would be on Medicare through disability. About 80, though, would be on Medicare
through age.
Anchor: As it relates specifically to Peoples, you guys are expanding. Y'all
are really growing rapidly.
Van Wart: Yeah, popular demand. The aging population, baby boomers, you
know, folks born between 1946 - 1964. Soon to be nearly 80 million Americans 65
or older by the year 2030. So, here in southeast Louisiana we will be servicing
the market of some 370,000 people on Medicare.
Anchor: Right, if you want to know more, the website is so simple. It's
peopleshealth.com. That's it, peopleshealth.com. Or simply call
800-978-9765 and you can learn more whether you're a first time enrolee or you
just want to get information about your current plan and make a comparison, they
can help you out. John, thank you so much.
Van Wart: Thank you, Matt. Nice to be here.
Anchor: Appreciate you being here. Thank you so much. OK. We'll be right back.
We've got much more Baton Rouge lagniappe coming up in just a moment.