Step
1: Start with the
Basics: Use a
one-page outline to keep
track of the major
issues and what you
learn. Try using the
attached Weighing
Your Options. And
the "Medicare and
You 2009" guide is
available. Call
1-800-MEDICARE or visit
your Social Security
office to get a paper
copy which makes it
easier to take notes and
review your options. It
contains a glossary of
the terms you'll run
into in your search. You
can also download
a copy here.
Step
2: Visit the
Medicare.gov Web site: Use
the links below to
review what commercial
plans are available now.
Data for 2009 is now
available at these
links.
-
Medicare
Advantage plans (also
called Medicare Part
C - including
commercial
Private-Fee-for-Service
[PFFS] plans similar
to the
SecureHorizons
MedicareDirect plan
being offered by
Alcatel-Lucent.)
-
Medicare
Part D drug plans (also
called Prescription
Drug Plans (PDPs)).
Data for 2009 is
available.
Step
3: Making comparisons: Comparing
Medicare plans takes
time and information.
Three helpful
references:
-
FAQs
about Medicare
Choices A one page
comparison of some
of your options for
Part A, Part B,
Medigap and Medicare
Advantage PFFS (from the
Insurance Dept of
Oregon).
-
Pros and
Cons of Medicare
Choices A summary
of the advantages
and disadvantages of
Medicare Advantage
and Medigap
supplemental
insurance options (from the
USAA Educational
Foundation).
-
National
Ratings of Health
Plans A search
site for health plan
ratings, compiled by
the NCQA and
distributed by U.S.
News. Not all health
plans will be
listed. The Medicare
sites listed in Step
2 also provides
ratings for some
health plans.
Step
4: Use Checklists
to compare: You need
to narrow down the plans
in Step 2 to a
few for more detailed
consideration. Use the
comparison options from Step
3 and be sure to use
the other source
documents, below, to
learn what you need to
know. You'll may need as
much as 4 hours - more,
if you are waiting for
return calls from
insurance companies.
Pick 2 or 3 plans that
are of the most interest
to you. Then download
the appropriate
Checklists from the [TAB]
Plan Checklists
and enter the
information in the
Checklists.
Also, download the
"How to
Compare" document
to guide you in your
comparisons.
Step
5: Review by your
eligibility date: Check
back with the plans you
added on or before
November 15th on their
Web site or by phone.
Data for 2009 data
health plans and for
Medicare prescription
drug plans are already
available.
Step
6: Finally, sign
up for the plan that's
best for you. Whatever
your decision, be sure
you call the
Alcatel-Lucent Benefits
Center at 1-888-232-4111
and confirm or cancel
the coverage they have
on record for you.