Joan’s Boomer Blog

Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

The subject of healthcare is a vital one for boomers and seniors and the more information we have about it the better off we will be when it comes to Medicare and choosing a plan.

Today I have a guest post by Laura Rossman, who heads up marketing and communications for iQuote by Longevity Alliance, an independent national insurance broker who helping seniors compare Medicare insurance plans from multiple providers.

By Laura Rossman

If you have retiree health insurance benefits from your employer, you better plan for your costs to increase this year. Here’s the grim news for retirees pocketbooks:

• 78% of employers expect to increase premiums on retiree health insurance in the year ahead.

• 53% of employers plan to increase cost-sharing in the year ahead.

So for many that’s a double whammy of monthly premium increases plus increases in co-pays and deductibles. The research is from consulting firm Aon Hewitt.

While most retirees stay with their employer retiree health insurance, as costs rise some may find that shopping for an individual plan could result in more cost effective Medicare coverage. It largely depends on how much of a subsidy the employer provides which could include payment of Part B premium, health insurance premium and or drug insurance coverage.

If you decide to look at Medicare health plans, begin by understanding the difference between a Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement plan. Medicare Advantage generally requires use of a network and you pay co pays and deductibles as you use services.

You’ll also have to pay Part B premium and probably a Medicare Advantage premium though there are some zero premium plans. Medicare Supplement is a more comprehensive plan- paying the 20% of costs that Medicare does not cover - that gives you a choice of where you go for care.

So if you see your retiree health care insurance costs creeping up, you might want to take a look at individual plans. But that won’t save you from higher costs in the future as those plans tend to see price increases each year, too. And make sure before you make any change in your insurance you speak with your former employer.

Once you exit the plan, the door closes.

With over 20 years in health and senior care services, Laura Rossman heads up marketing and communications for iQuote by Longevity Alliance, an independent national insurance broker who helping seniors compare Medicare insurance plans from multiple providers.

Medicare is a very important subject of concern to baby boomers. Today, I have another guest contribution by Ross Blair, President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc., a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) runs from January 1 through February 14, 2012. During that time, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage have the opportunity to cancel their Medicare Advantage plan if they find it’s not fitting their needs.

Those who do elect to drop a Medicare Advantage plan will be placed back on “Original Medicare” and have the option to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), so that they don’t have a lapse in drug coverage. If you’re considering taking advantage of the ADP, take care to avoid gaps in coverage. Here are few important pieces of advice I’d encourage people to consider:

1. Know the gaps in Original Medicare (Parts A and B):

Similar to Medicare Advantage, original Medicare (Parts A and B) has deductibles and coinsurance. But, unlike Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare doesn’t have a cap on how much you may have to spend out of your own pocket each year if you get sick or injured. Per the 2010 health care reform law, all Medicare Advantage plans must place a $6,700 limit on what you can be asked to spend out of your own pocket for covered medical services (some have lower caps). And, original Medicare does not cover the cost of prescription drugs.

2. Look before you leap:

I encourage people to make a checklist of benefits they want to keep before they drop a Medicare Advantage plan. For example, be sure your doctor will see you if you change from private Medicare Advantage insurance to basic Medicare. And, be sure affordable prescription drug coverage is available through a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan that will cover the specific drugs you take at a reasonably low price.

3. Look into Medicare Supplements–

If you’re going with Medicare Parts A and B, you may want to look into augmenting it with a Medicare Supplement plan. Most states have 10 Medicare Supplement plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N (some plans types are not available in all areas). Each plan type must have the exact same level of supplemental coverage, so an F plan from one company must legally provide the same level of coverage as an F plan from another insurer.

You can compare plans side-by-side at PlanPrescriber.com. If you’re canceling your Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement may be a good alternative. NOTE: After your first three months on Medicare Part B, Medicare Supplement plans are medically underwritten, which means some people may not qualify.

4. Don’t lose additional benefits:

Some Medicare Advantage plans provide routine dental and vision coverage, which original Medicare does not. And, Medicare Supplement plans do not typically provide these services either. So, if you drop Medicare Advantage, during the ADP you may need to purchase stand-alone coverage for routine vision and dental care.

Web sites like eHealthInsurance.com allow you to research and compare those types of policies side-by-side.If you follow my tips, you should be well prepared for the ADP.

Other recommendations: Don’t stop at Medicare.

There are an increasing number of insurance products not related to Medicare that people are starting to consider and take advantage of. Accident and critical illness policies are now available in many states.

When you have a claim, these plans give you money directly and you can use it your discretion. These aren’t comprehensive insurance products, but they can help you pay for deductibles, coinsurance, rent or groceries if you have a major claim.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

Did you miss the annual Medicare Enrollment Period? Today I have another guest post by Ross Blair, President and CDO of Plan Prescriber, Inc, with information about what to do now.

On December 7, 2011 Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2012 Medicare Advantage (part C) and Medicare Part D plans ended. These plans often change prices and benefits from year to year, so the AEP was designated to allow people to review and change their coverage, if necessary.

Prior to 2011, AEP ended on December 31st. So, as you can imagine, there was some concern that the new December 7th deadline could sneak up on some people. There was understandable concern that some people wouldn’t hear about the new dates and could wind up missing AEP altogether.

We were concerned too, so two weeks after the AEP started we surveyed Medicare Part D or C recipients to find out how many knew about the new deadline. And, as suspected, the survey showed that one-in-five Medicare recipients were unaware of the new dates.

Our hope is that anyone who didn’t know about the date changes when we ran our survey somehow got the news between November 1 and December 7, and updated their drug coverage before the deadline.

But, we also know from experience that a fair number of people always miss the deadline, no matter when it is. In the past when the AEP ended on December 31, we’d get phone calls as late as January 10 from people wanting to make a “last minute” change to their coverage for the coming year. And, all too often, we had to give people the news that it can be very difficult to change your Part C or D coverage outside of AEP. It’s not impossible, but it can be difficult.

So, if you or someone you know did miss AEP this year, we created a short list of tips to help you maximize your drug and health benefits in the coming year. And, if you desperately need to change plans, there are some strategies for doing that in here as well.

What to do if you missed the 2012 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period:

1. Look for Other Drugs: If you missed AEP and you can’t change your coverage, try to optimize the drugs you’re taking to fit your current plan. Among the ten largest drug plans in the country, no single plan covers more than 79 percent2 of all available prescription drugs in 2012. We surveyed people using our web site during the last year’s AEP and found that one-in-three (34%) took a drug that wasn’t covered by their Medicare plan in eth coming year. So, if they didn’t update their coverage heading into 2011, they’d pay full price for that drug and their expenses wouldn’t count toward the “Donut Hole.”

If you’re in the same boat this year, don’t despair. The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires every Medicare plan with prescription drug coverage to include at least two drugs in each category and class. So, even though the plan doesn’t cover the drug you take, it must cover another drug designed to treat the same problem. Talk to your doctor to find what other drugs exist to treat your illness and discuss the possibility of switching.

2. Ask about Medicare Supplement (MediGap) open enrollment periods: If your MediGap plans I isn’t working for you any longer, and you can’t enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan outside of AEP, you may

be able to change your MediGap plan during select MediGap open enrollment periods. MediGap plans are usually medically underwritten, which means the insurance companies don’t have to accept your application if you’ve been on Medicare Part B for more than three months. AEP is the best time to drop a MediGap plan and switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. But, some states and insurance companies have created open enrollment periods for MediGap plans as well. These open enrollments allow you to update or change your MediGap health coverage without medical underwriting. But the rules change from state to state, so, if you want or need to make a change outside of AEP, investigate the MediGap open enrollment rules in your state by contacting a licensed agent.

3. Ask an expert about Special Needs Plans (SNPs): Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are available for people who are low-income, disabled and under the age of 65. There are also fifteen types of SNPs designed specifically for folks with chronic health problems. And, if you qualify for a SNP you can enroll at any time, provided one is available in your area. The SNPs designed for chronic conditions cover the following areas: chronic alcohol and other drug dependence; certain auto-immune disorders; cancer; certain cardiovascular disorders; chronic heart failure; dementia and Alzheimer’s; diabetes mellitus; end-stage liver disease; end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis; certain hematologic disorders; HIV/AIDS; certain chronic lung disorders; certain mental health disorders like bipolar and schizophrenia; certain neurologic disorders; and stroke.

4. Investigate 5 Star Medicare Advantage plans: New this year, you don’t have to wait for AEP to enroll in a 5-Star Medicare Advantage plan. The 2010 Health Care Reform law created a new ratings system for Medicare Advantage plans that begins in 2012. Plans with the highest rating of 5 stars can enroll people at any time, even after AEP is over. But, the plans are not available everywhere. The easier way to find one near you is to use a Medicare plan search engine, like PlanPrescriber.com or Medicare.gov.

5. Medicare Annual Disenrollment Period (MADP) Starts January 1: Medicare’s ADP lets you “disenroll” (cancel) from a Medicare Advantage plan if it fails to meet your needs and add drug coverage at the same time. ADP starts on January 1, 2012 and ends on February 14, 2012. If you decide to drop a Medicare Advantage, you will have the option to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan so you don’t lose drug coverage. But, if you abandon a Medicare Advantage plan you’re giving up benefits like the network of providers who participate in that plan and a cap on your out-of-pocket spending for medical bills (provided those costs are approved by Medicare). These are two benefits original Medicare doesn’t have. So, before you disenroll in a plan, do some homework to be sure you’ll still have the coverage you need in 2012.

6. Investigate Medicare Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Medicare also provides SEPs for people who need to change their coverage outside of AEP. A person may qualify for an SEP if they move permanently outside of their plan’s service area; become eligible for a low-income subsidy due to a loss of income; receive incomplete information about what qualifies as creditable prescription drug coverage or lose that coverage through no action of their own; if they become eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (”dual eligible”) but lose their dual eligibility status; if they live in, are moving into, or are moving out of certain types of skilled nursing facilitis; if they receive a retroactive Medicare entitlement determination; or if they qualify for other special enrollment periods that may be authorized by the Federal Government.

If you missed the Annual Enrollment Period, don’t feel trapped in a plan that doesn’t meet your needs. If the cost of drugs, coverage or key benefits becomes more than you or a loved one can afford, there may be opportunities to make changes. The key is to be proactive, and reach out to an expert who can help you figure out what those opportunities are, and how to take advantage of them.

About the Author: Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc., a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.

Choosing a Medicare Plan in the Face of Potential Changes to the Program The Medicare

Annual Enrollment deadline is December 7, 2011. Today I have another guest post by Ross Blair, President and CDO of Plan Prescriber, Inc, with some questions and answers to help you sort out this complicated subject.

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) ends in just eight days on December 7. It is the one time of year when most of the program’s beneficiaries can review and possibly update their current stand-alone drug coverage or Medicare Advantage coverage. The enrollment period for 2012 is currently underway, and according to licensed eHealthInsurance agents, the uncertainty about Medicare’s future has many seniors wondering what to do. When we surveyed a number of our licensed eHealthInsurance Medicare agents, they all had the same response: the most common questions being asked during this year’s enrollment period focused on Medicare’s future.

What questions are Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers asking?

Question 1: Are Medicare Advantage plans going away - should I try to switch to a Supplement plan?

Answer: First, there was good news about the Medicare Advantage program this year. Overall, Medicare Advantage plan premiums are down four percent for 20121. Medicare Advantage plans offering prescription drug coverage and a cap on your out-of-pocket costs (two benefits not provided by “original Medicare”) continue to be available for $0 per month throughout most of the country. And, these $0 plans include a basic prescription drug benefit, which will be increasingly valuable in 2012 when popular drugs like Lipitor and Plavix are scheduled to be available in generic form.

Second, any reductions in Medicare spending could easily affect Medicare Supplement plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans. Both types of plans are subsidized in some way by the Medicare program. And, the less the government has to spend on Medicare, the more an insurance company would have to cover to fill in those gaps.

Finally, it can be hard to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan after your first six months on Medicare Part B. If you miss those first six months, the insurance company has the option to decline your application based on your health status.

Question 2: Will my Medicare Part B premiums increase more than my Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA)?

Answer: There is actually a rule in Congress that Medicare premium increases cannot be higher than Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The COLA for this year is about $433 dollars for most people. And, the Medicare Part B premium increase was $3.503 for most people.

Question 3: Is my doctor still accepting my Medicare Advantage plan? Is my hospital covered by this plan?

Answer: While finding a physician who accepts Medicare can be an issue, the federal government continues to monitor the quality and access standards of Medicare Advantage plans. A good agent can help you review the physicians who are accepting their Medicare Advantage plan in your zip code.

Question 4: What should Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers do this year to make sure they’re getting the best bang for their buck out of Medicare?

Answer: Don’t go on auto-pilot. A recent Opinion Research survey found that only about 534 percent of seniors on a Medicare Part D or Part C plan say they will review their coverage before 2012. Too often, Medicare beneficiaries don’t realize that Part C and D plans can change from year to year. Costs and drug coverage may change; deductibles and co-pays may change; and your health may change. So, what worked for you in 2011 may not work in 2012.

Do a quick check-up online, or get someone to help you: People tend to want to avoid a review of their Medicare coverage because it’s a hassle. But, there are a number of Internet sites that can reduce the hassle of reviewing your coverage. Sites like PlanPrescriber.com (owned by Plan Prescriber, Inc.), eHealthMedicare.com (owned by eHealthInsurance Services, Inc.) and Medicare.gov (the government website) make it easy for you to review plans and benefits side-by-side, and get a sense of what plan might work best for you. Or, if you don’t want to use the Internet, you can contact Medicare, your state department of insurance, the insurance company, or work with a licensed agent who represents several insurance companies, like eHealthInsurance.

Bring a list of drugs, doctors and bills: When working with a licensed agent, be sure to bring a list of the prescription drugs you’re taking, including the dosages and frequencies. And, if possible, have your medical bills from the past year handy as well so you can reference what you’ve been spending on health care. You also want to have the names of your preferred physicians and pharmacies handy.

Be flexible: The average Social Security Benefit is $1,2292 per month. But, a recent eHealth survey found that 79 percent of seniors said they would not change their health insurance plan to potentially save up to $100 month if it meant switching doctors. But, $100 per month is almost 10 percent of the average social security check. If your money is really tight, try to be open-minded about ways you can reduce expenses.

¹http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/09/20110915a.html

² http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/13/~/average-monthly-social-security-benefit-for-a-retired-worker

³http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaeffect.html

⁴ Data according to a national randomized phone survey conducted between October 28 and October 31, 2011 by Opinion Research Corporation and sponsored by PlanPrescriber.

Medicare has neither reviewed not endorsed this information.

About the Author: Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc., a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

Baby boomers are at the age when they will deal not only with their own medical issues and the maze of Medicare requirements, but also with their parents’ who will suffer different health crisis requiring care and oversight. Recently, I planned a visit to my parent’s home to help out after my dad’s hip replacement surgery and as things fell apart, I am seeing first hand how difficult it is to navigate this maze. If you are not aware right now of what Medicare covers and how it works, and what proposed deep cuts will do to this program which will affect you personally, it might be a good time to find out.

My own home is nearly 2,000 miles away from my parents and as we get older and our parents get older, this becomes problematic. Up until now, my 80+ year old parents have been in good health for the most part. Last month, though, my dad had a hip replacement. He was doing very well getting back on his feet, and then he suffered a mild stroke.

We are lucky in that the stroke wasn’t as bad as it could have been but at 86 years of age, the comeback road will be very long for him. I personally, am also lucky that my parents have my two sisters and their husbands living close by who are able and willing to devote time to seeing that my parents now get the help they need. While I’ve been here, though, it’s become my responsibility as the oldest in the family, to help them.

My dad was on the local fire department board for 40 years of his life and they vowed he would never pay for ambulance service. When we called them at 230 am after my dad woke up completely numb on his left side, the guys who came out knew my dad and they gave him wonderful care. So back to the hospital we went.

We spent several early morning hours waiting to see what tests found and what would be done. At first, they even contemplated sending my dad home with us, until he showed he couldn’t even walk with a walker. They admitted him for 48 hours observations status for more tests.

Here lies the rub with Medicare. By Monday, even before a proposed MRI was done, the “discharge specialist” had visited with a dizzying array of options but the bottom line was, dad would be discharged and since he was on observation status and not inpatient status, Medicare would not pay for further care, ie transfer to a rehabilitation facility (read nursing home with name change). Medicare would also not pay for him to stay in the hospital to see if he would regain some ground and we could manage at home. Forty-eight hours was all he was allowed.

I decided very quickly that my dad couldn’t be left at the hospital alone. The doctor had come in Monday morning, without us there, and asked him where he wanted to be discharged to and Dad said “home.” It was perfectly obvious to me, he couldn’t come home yet but the people at the hospital, with their little Medicare forms, were not above talking to a very sick and befuddled 86 year old man and demanding solutions from him.

My advice to anyone who lands in this situation, whether it is a spouse or parent, be present, be observant, ask questions! In the guise of routing out “medicare fraud and abuse” very sick old people are being put out onto the street with few options. My parents pay $10,000 a year for insurance and yet, if my dad was to receive more care, it would be up to my parents to pay, upfront, the $250 a day out of pocket. My parents, luckily for our family, have money saved for this situation but for those who have no resources, or even a family to fall back on, would actually be put out onto the sidewalk, I guess.

What saved our family, and I’m forever grateful for this, was my father’s physical therapist at the hospital. She said my dad seemed very motivated to get better and she recommended an intense inpatient therapy program at a larger hospital about 35 miles away. She spoke to the discharge planner and the doctor and on her recommendation, they all agreed if he could get into this program, it would help him.

So, as luck would have it now, since everyone recommended this intense therapy, then Medicare will pay for that. The discharge specialist at the hospital hadn’t even thought of this option so we were lucky.

So now my dad is in this program for at least 2 weeks, then after that, Medicare will cease to pay for any other care facility and he will come home. The staff at the hospital did tell us, however, if he needs home care or more out-patient therapy, then Medicare would pay, at least as far as we know.

(My dad was told at the inpatient rehab facility that to get in there the patient needed motivation to get better, doctor’s recommendations and good insurance! Which means my parent’s supplemental insurance is kicking in,)

If you’re a baby boomer or have parents who are on Medicare, it would be wise for you to keep abreast of the coming changes to funding. President Obama is proposing $320 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, programs which have already seen serious cuts.

Here is an article I found which lays out the coming cuts.

I know first hand, at the little fire department in our town where my dad was on the board, they have had cuts to the Medicare funding of ambulance service runs. Since there are many seniors on Medicare in this community, and since the fire department’s operations depended on Medicare funding, they are now tittering on the edge of serious financial problems.

My niece works at the hospital my dad was in and she said everyone is bracing for cuts to services after the Medicare cuts go into effect. Departments have already laid off personnel so they are operating on less staff.

My husband and I have kept up somewhat with Medicare funding issues because we are on Tricare and Tricare’s funding levels are tied to Medicare. I can tell you that even living in a very large area, we have trouble finding primary care doctors who will take Tricare patients because of red tape and low rates of re-embursement. The doctors we do get are overworked and push pills just to get you out of their offices (my personal opinion!)

I think many times we don’t keep abreast of these issues because they are daunting and confusing and we feel there isn’t anything we can do anyway. I’m not sure myself what can be done except to write to your Congressmen and tell they they will be voted out if they don’t stand up against cuts to Medicare funding.

If you’ve had experience with Medicare and Medicaid on either a personal or professional level, I’d love to hear from you. If you have any ideas of what readers can do to become involved, please feel free to comment. Medicare funding and getting older are issues we all need to be informed about.

Annual Medicare Enrollment is less than a month away and my guest contritubutor Ross Blair, President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. has some important information on what you should know in choosing a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan.

By Ross Blair, CEO of Plan Prescriber

The health reform law has made some important changes to Medicare that go into effect in 2012. Whether you’re approaching age 65 or already enrolled in Medicare, the annual enrollment period (AEP) for next year’s Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans is right around the corner – and it’s starting a month earlier.

Before 2012 begins, we’ve outlined the six most important things people on Medicare should know to ensure they pick the best Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage for their specific needs.

There are new Medicare annual enrollment dates. Generally, most Medicare beneficiaries can change a Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan only once per year during Medicare’s annual enrollment period (AEP). The dates for AEP changed this year, and run from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 in 2011. And, if you want to switch from a supplement plan to an Advantage plan, the AEP is a good time to make that switch.

But, the new AEP does not effect when you can enroll in a Medicare supplement plan, because these plans have an initial enrollment period that starts in the first six months after you enroll in Medicare Part B and are 65 or older. You can enroll in any supplement plan during that time and not be declined. But, if you wait until those six months are over, your application could be declined.

Make way for baby boomers qualifying for “Original Medicare” at age 65. This year, baby boomers begin turning 65, which means more people will be enrolling in Medicare this year than in the past. All of these new enrollees will put more stress on Medicare enrollment experts. When you combine this influx of new customers with the new enrollment dates, people who wait until the last minute could be putting themselves at risk of running out of time or not getting the help they need to review their coverage and make changes, if necessary. It’s a good idea to make a plan and review your coverage options for 2012 early.

“Newbies” be aware of deductibles, coinsurance, out-of-pocket limits and prescription drugs. If you’re new to Medicare, it’s important to know that both parts of Original Medicare (A and B) have deductibles. And, the deductibles are not tied to a calendar year like they are with traditional health insurance. Instead, they’re tied to a 90-day benefit period, with some exceptions. The Medicare Part B benefit also includes coinsurance after you meet your deductible. With coinsurance, Medicare pays a percentage of each bill (typically between 20 percent and 45 percent depending on the service) and you pay the rest. Original Medicare also has no limits on the amount you could pay out of your own pocket for covered medical services each year. And, Original Medicare does not cover the cost of most prescription drugs.

It’s critical to compare drug coverage: A 2011 PlanPrescriber.com report looked at 25,000 user sessions on its website during the 2011 annual enrollment period (between Nov. 15, 2010, and Dec 31, 2010), where customers entered their zip code, their existing Medicare prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage drug plan and the names, dosages and frequency of any prescription drugs they were taking, if any. The site’s prescription drug plan comparison tool found that, on average, a user could save more than $500 per year – more than $40 per month - by reviewing their options and changing their prescription drug plan. Don’t miss this important step heading into 2012.

You can fill in Medicare’s gaps: People concerned about some of the gaps in original Medicare have the option to enroll in insurance products regulated by the government but provided by private companies. These are products designed specifically to fill some of the different gaps in Medicare. They include: Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans, which cover the cost of most prescription drugs; Medicare supplement plans, which cover portions of the deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs not covered by original Medicare; and Medicare Advantage plans, which bundle together the Part D drug benefit with some additional coverage for deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs. Each type of supplemental coverage has different guidelines for when you can enroll, change and cancel your coverage.

Get “star power” in 2012. The Affordable Care Act (health reform) requires a star rating system to be used for Medicare Advantage plans, beginning in 2012. Plans get a rating of 1 to 5, with a 5-star rating equating to an “Excellent Performance,” and a 1-star rating equating to a “Poor Performance.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2011 out of 523 plans nationwide, only three received an overall rating of 5, and 74 received an overall rating 4 or 4.5 stars. Heading into 2012 the hope is that more plans will achieve this high 5-star rating. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a 5-star plan, consider it as an option for your coverage. One benefit of a 5-star plan is that you can enroll in it any time, even outside of Medicare’s annual enrollment period.

Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. , a leading provider of comparison tools and educational materials for Medicare-related insurance products.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information provided by PlanPrescriber.