LRO    The Benefits Team Home Page                   last: Jul 21, 2010

6 Steps for Comparing
Medicare Health Plan Alternatives

» This page focuses on Medicare-eligible Management retirees. For Medicare eligible retirees, follow the steps below to compose and then compare a list of alternatives to the Alcatel-Lucent SecureHorizons Medicare plan or the Medicare HMO.

 

Step 1: Start with the Basics: Follow an easy-to-use guide to choosing a health plan such as Choosing the right health benefits. Then fill in a one-page tracking checklist to keep track of the major issues and what you learn.

  • Download the attached Weighing Your Options to keep track of what you learn.

  • Also, download the Plan Costs and Coverage worksheet from Consumer Reports that provides the top 25 questions to ask and has room to log the answers and the costs.

Step 2: Visit the Medicare.gov Web site: Use the links on the Welomce to review what commercial Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplemental insurance plans that are available now. Data for 2010 is available now. Medicare.gov has special features that include performance, coverage and cost of different plans.

Step 3: Making comparisons: Comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplemental insurance plans takes time and information. 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).

Step 4: Use the tracking checklist 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, on the Welcome page, to learn what else 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.

Step 5: Review by your eligibility date: The Alcatel-Lucent and the Medicare open enrollment periods only have a small window of overlap. If you haven't made your decision by the end of the Alcatel-Lucent open enrollment period, a "safe" thing to do is to sign up for their program and then complete your review of commercial plans. If you decide not to stay with Alcatel-lucent, you can cancel the Alcatel-Lucent plans at any time.

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 before the end of the open enrollment period. If you choose another plan, be sure to cancel the coverage that Alcatel-Lucent has on record for you at the Benefits Center.

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USEFUL PLAN YEAR 2009 MEDICARE SOURCE DOCUMENTS
(download here - or call 1-800-MEDICARE for a paper copy)
» Medicare and You 2010 Summary: "With more Medicare choices than ever, it’s important that you look at your coverage every year. Plan costs and benefits change, and so can your health." This is the Medicare document that explains Medicare Parts A, B, C and D. It also describes Medigap plans but read the more complete description in "Choosing a Medigap Policy", below.
» Private Fee for Service Plans Summary: "A Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plan isn’t the same as the Original Medicare Plan which is offered by the Federal government. It also isn’t the same as a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy."  Be sure to note on page 1: "If you join a Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plan, not all providers [doctors, specialists and hospitals] will accept the plan’s payment terms or agree to treat you. Before you get any services, ask your doctor or hospital if they are willing to contact the plan for payment information and accept the plan’s payment terms."
»2009 Choosing a Medigap Policy Summary: "A Medigap policy [also know as a Medicare supplement] is a type of private insurance that helps you pay for some of the costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover." Important consideration:

SPECIAL NOTE
The information provided here is from authoritative sources. But each person's health care needs are different. So be sure to use these references as a guide to what is available - they may not be complete enough to cover every individual's situation. You can access the Medicare help line at 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance help line at State Help  to the left.
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Help Others by Volunteering for the Benefits Team
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 Pending changes in legislation and regulation may require retirees to revisit their decisions and possibly consider new Medicare options. If you have human resources experience, please join the Benefit Team and help your fellow retirees in these important decisions.

Send an email to benefits@lucentretirees.com