Children over the age of 30 are encouraged to help their parents and grandparents get enrolled for Medicare, a federal health insurance program.
Nationwide — Open healthcare enrollment started on October 15th, and the deadline is already fast approaching. Sadly, many African Americans are not taking advantage of the Medicare options available to them. Because of this, a new program has been launched to help Black seniors better understand what health benefits they qualify for and how to get started.
According to a recent study, more than 50% of seniors enrolling in Medicare during Open Enrollment find choosing the right plan confusing. Even worse, over 35% of seniors say they don’t feel prepared to choose a plan that is right for them.
For this reason, a group of Medicare consultants have launched a new program to help respond to the questions and concerns that many seniors have. The initiative is for all seniors, but specifically targets African Americans because research reveals that they are less likely to enroll and more likely to miss the annual enrollment deadline.
For more details and/or to speak to a licensed agent, interested ones can get started here.
About Medicare
Medicare is a federal program that provides individuals 65 years or older healthcare coverage at a small cost. Original Medicare coverage is broken into two parts — Part A and Part B — and is accepted by nearly every doctor and hospital in the country. Medicare Part A covers inpatient or hospital stays while Part B covers outpatient or medical care.
Together, Part A and B cover about 80% of the typical healthcare costs seniors face—leaving a few significant gaps in coverage. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are supplemental policies designed to help extend coverage, lessen costs, and ultimately give beneficiaries peace of mind at all times.