The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released 2018 benefit and premium information as well as Star Ratings for Medicare health and drug plans. Changes announced represent more health coverage choices, improved access to high-quality health choices, and decreased premiums in 2018. “Medicare’s top priority is to ensure that beneficiaries have choices for affordable, high-quality care that fit their needs,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.

The following resources have been created to assist patients with understanding health coverage options:

• 2018 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-11-17.html
• 2018 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings:http://go.cms.gov/partcanddstarratings
• Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Program:  https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-09-29.html
• Prescription Drug Coverage: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/index.html

For more information about the CMS health coverage announcement, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2017-Press-releases-items/2017-10-11.html

For information on proposed policy changes and updates for Medicare Advantage and the Prescription Drug Benefit Program for 2019, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-sheets/2017-Fact-Sheet-items/2017-11-16.html?DLPage=1&DLEntries=10&DLSort=0&DLSortDir=descending

Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. If your patients decide not to get Medicare drug coverage when they are first eligible, they may be asked to pay a late enrollment penalty unless they have other creditable prescription drug coverage or are receiving Medicare’s Extra Help.

Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 – December 7. Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year. These changes could affect the cost, coverage, and the providers and pharmacies in their networks. You can assist your patients by discussing their Medicare Part D coverage and timelines for the ESRD coordination of benefits period to ensure that they are prepared for the year to come.

To research Medicare drug plans use the Medicare Plan finder at: https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx

Helpful resources for your patients:

• Visit https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare current coverage with all of the options in the area.
• Review the Medicare & You 2018 handbook at https://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050-Medicare-and-You.pdf.
• Patients with limited income and resources may be able to get extra help paying prescription drug costs. For more information, visit https://secure.ssa.gov/i1020/start.
• Get one-on-one help from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit https://www.medicare.gov/contacts/.
• In 2018, patients who reach the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit (Part D) can save 60% on covered brand-name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs while in the donut hole. Visit: https://www.medicare.gov/part-d/