2019 Medicare & You Manual
This just out; the 2019 “Medicare & You” Handbook from CMS.
To download to your computer, just click HERE and then right-click your mouse, and “save as” to your desktop.
Category: Medicare
Open Enrollment Travel Plans & Calendar; Big Plan Changes Coming!
Welcome to Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2019
The decade is fast coming to a close, and there are some BIG changes coming in a lot of the plans for 2019. For sure we need to set aside some time to meet this year. I want all my clients to be well-prepared for 2019.
As always I will be doing all I can do to see every one of you. Please call me ASAP so that we can set up your appointment. My number is 859.654.0120 extension 1000. You can call that number any time.
Medicare.gov Updates
Have you sent in your drug list? If not, here is a link to this important document. It’s not required of course. It does however help me to save time. By sending this document to me, I can pre-enter your drugs into Medicare.gov so that I don’t have to do it once I have arrived. This can very often save 5-30 minutes depending on how many you take.
You can get this document HERE or by clicking the picture on the right. Once you open the document, you can then print it, fill it out, and mail it back to me at;
Michael Todd Oldfield
3408 Crimson King Court
Lexington, Kentucky 40517
Travel Plans
Below is a general guideline for my travel plans for October 1 – December 7, 2018. This is our entire Medicare Open Enrollment and Pre-Enrollment season. This is my funnest and busiest time of the year. I travel more than 5,000 miles per month to visit with 300-400 clients located all across our great state of Kentucky. During this season I work 7 days per week and mostly 12-14 hour days.
It’s very important for you to understand that I do my best to be to every appointment on time, but I will NOT leave a client if they still have lingering questions. So, this means every appointment has the potential of lasting only 15 minutes… or may run as long as 3 hours. I just never know. So, having said that, if you would like to meet, please be patient with me as I work very hard to serve every Medicare beneficiary.
This year there are also many different venues in which to meet. As always I will be in my Wal-mart (Hamburg location), but in addition to that, I will also be in my office (2808 Palumbo Drive, #204, Lexington, KY, 40509). For out of towner’s I will traveling all over Kentucky on various dates. See below for more information.
ASAP, please call me at 859.654.0120 x1000 so that we can book your appointment.
Travel Plans By Date
For planning, below is where I will be on various days and dates.
- October 1-October 14 – Western Kentucky – Mostly new business visits.
- October 15-December 7, Mon – Thu, 9AM-1PM – Wal-mart in Hamburg – Existing Lexington area clients.
- October 15-December 7, Mon – Thu 2PM-8PM – My Office – Lexington area clients.
- October 19 – Northern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- October 20 – Eastern Kentucky – Along I-64 – New and existing clients.
- October 27 – October 28 – Eastern Kentucky – Far Eastern – New and existing clients.
- November 3 – Southern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- November 9 – October 11 – Western Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- November 16 – November 18 – Eastern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- November 24 – Northern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- November 25 – Southern Kentucky – New and existing clients.
- November 30 – December 2 – New and existing clients.
Travel Plans By Geography
Or, if it is easier for you, below is a list of where I will be headed in a general sense during the entire season.
- Lexington Area – You can meet with me daily at my office on Mondays – Thursdays from 2PM – 8PM. This is the best place to see me. I book appointments there on the hour (6 per day). You can also meet me at Wal-mart in Hamburg Mondays – Thursdays from 9AM – 1PM. Be sure to call me to book this appointment as there are frequent walk-ups there.
- Western Kentucky – I will be there October 1 – 14 mostly seeing new clients but will also be seen. I will then return November 9 – 11 to visit with existing clients remaining to be seen. There is not a place I do not travel to in Western Kentucky during this season.
- Southern Kentucky – I will be down south of Lexington on November 3rd and on November 25th. I will come through Corbin, London, Berea, Richmond, Danville, Lancaster, and Wilmore, etc.
- Northern Kentucky – I will be up your ways on November 19th, maybe the 20th, and on November 24th.
- Eastern Kentucky – I will make my first trip into Eastern Kentucky on October 20-21. This trip will probably keep me close to I-64. I will hit Winchester, Mt. Sterling, Salt Like, Owingsville, Morehead, Grayson, Flemingsburg, and maybe Ashland and Louisa. Then I will return the following weekend on October 27-28 and dig deeper into Eastern KY and hit places like Pikeville, Inez, Whitesburg, Harlan, Hazard, Salyersville, and many other towns. I will finish Eastern Kentucky with another 3 day trip on November 16 – November 18.
This is the plan. Of course, it’s subject to a LOT of change. If you have referrals, please have them call me ASAP, so I can get them booked the same time as I get your appointment scheduled (to save time). I LOVE referrals. They are the lifeblood of my business. Please have them call me and mention your name.
They can reach me at 859.654.0120 x1000
Love All The Testimonials
I am just so thankful to the nearly 100 people that have sent in testimonials concerning the work I do. To leave a real life testimonial, go HERE!
[bne_testimonials layout=”masonry”]
Medicare’s Trust Fund Is Set to Run Out in 8 Years. Social Security, 16. – The New York Times
Today’s rant… The demise of Medicare and Social Security. Oh my lord!!!
Source: Medicare’s Trust Fund Is Set to Run Out in 8 Years. Social Security, 16. – The New York Times
Click the link above for the article. This is not good news sadly. For years they have been estimating when Social Security and Medicare would run out of money. It seems like every time they update the estimate, the end date is moved a smidge closer to now… and it happened again.
Now they are saying Social Security will run out in sixteen years or 2034 and Medicare will run out in just another eight years or 2026.
Medicare is a real problem, just when you think about the timing. So they are telling us it will be done, right when the biggest group of baby boomers are probably going to need healthcare services. Right?
Wow. that is just nuts. So, we are going to be a bunch of old farts and no one to take care of us. Which we already knew any ways, being that the average age of a nurse is above 53. They cannot keep working forever. So what do you think when in 20 years, the average age of a nurse will be 60 or more… but the number of patients will be double? Right? Boomers Rule!!!!
However, we will not have money for our healthcare or our groceries by then. Social security will be gone.. healthcare will be in shambles.
And, all this has been known for, well…. like, forever. Politicians did not want to deal with the problem because the solutions are politically unfavorable. Meaning, if they wanted to work on a solution, no matter the solution, they are going to have to piss someone off. Pissed off constituents translate into votes for candidates who don’t do anything, being that no action is better than a wrong action in their minds. So, by trying to do right, a decent politician will end up possibly out of work. They know this. So, they have not done anything.
It’s all just a mess. This is what our government has left us with.
No healthcare soon. No income either.
Good job government.
Rant over.
AEP Plans for Medicare Clients
September 6, 2017
Dear Valued Client or Clients;
It’s crazy time again!!!! Let the madness begin!!! Medicare “Open Enrollment” is upon us! We are surely expecting some change to the Medicare system and plans. Rates are liable to go up. Copays may shift. And I do even expect to see some plans just simply “go away”. BUT, DO NOT WORRY. I will have all the “news to use” on the topic by October 1. Today I need to speak to you regarding your annual review.
ANNUAL CLIENT REVIEWS
As always, my client’s come first during this season. That includes you. I will again be working straight through, seven days a week during the entire nine-week “Open Enrollment” season.
Appointment scheduling begins September 19th. It does not matter whether you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement plan or simply a Prescription Drug Plan. You need to see me every year. Premiums, copays, covered services change every year. Your needs change annually as well. This is our opportunity to make sure you are set up correctly.
Medicare Season Travel Plan & My Schedule
This year I will have more than three hundred families to see during “Open Enrollment”. Being that they are scattered all over Kentucky from Whitesburg to Paducah, it means that I will be putting on a lot of miles. That’s ok. I love Kentucky this time of the year. BUT, we do need to work together in an organized manner so that I have ample time to see everyone and get all their questions answered.
Mostly, I will be traveling around Kentucky during the weekends. You can also find me at Walmart and Kroger in Lexington. My ongoing weekly schedule can be found at www.toddoldfield.com/schedule.
There are many different venues in which to reach me this year.
You may meet with me in any of these locations. Please do call my office and let me know when you are thinking about coming so I can make sure I am not already tied up with other clients;
| MONDAY-WEDNESDAY
9AM-1PM |
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
9AM-1PM |
MONDAY-SUNDAY
BY APPOINTMENT, 2PM-6PM |
| Hamburg – 2350 Grey Lag Way
Lexington, KY 40509 |
1650 Bryan Station Road
Lexington KY 40505 |
2808 Palumbo Drive, Suite 204
Lexington, KY 40509 |
SEND BACK – Medicare.gov Update Forms
It is very, very important that you get this back to me in a timely manner. I need these completed and returned to me no later than September 15th.
Each year, I send out a Medicare.gov update form for you to complete. This is a simple place for you to update me on your prescription(s) and/or physician lists. This way I can do all my research on your case and if there are changes you need to make to your plan, then we will know that BEFORE I come see you, and we will save time in our appointment since I will have already done all the research.
Researching this information on your behalf is the single greatest service I provide for you each year. This is just simply the best way to figure out what your potential healthcare expense might be next year.
Please do get these back to me in a timely fashion. I will call you once I have received it back to arrange a time for us to get together.
REFERRALS
Nothing is more important to me than your referrals. I know you do not know this but, I happily accept referrals. You see, due to Medicare marketing guidelines, I am not allowed to approach Medicare beneficiaries to discuss their Medicare. They have to call me. So, referrals are my #1 way to grow my business.
This means I RELY on my clients a LOT to introduce me to their friends, family, coworkers, golf buddies, and anyone else that they think I might be able to help. I earn referrals from my clients by doing my best to help them then they need help.
PLEASE, if you have some referrals, feel free to pass out my cards and tell them to give me a call. I am enclosing a couple extra cards in this mailing.
TESTIMONIALS
SEND BACK – Testimonial Form
If you have a testimonial, please send it back with your Medicare.gov Update Form.
Thank you to the many people that have taken time to either write in with a testimonial or complete their online testimonial.
It means so much to receive a kind word. I do love my work for sure. If you would like to send me a testimonial, please use the attached form and send it back with your Medicare.gov update form, OR, simply go to www.toddoldfield.com/testimonials and tell your story there.
SUMMARY
Well, that’s it for now. PLEASE do get your forms back to me QUICKLY. I will be scheduling appointments in the order by which they are returned. It’s going to be a very hectic season for me through the end of January (Medicare & ACA Open Enrollment Season). Stay in touch with me. I guarantee I can help you protect yourself and your family.
With regards. God Bless.
Todd
Medicare weighs changes to controversial plan on cancer meds | Lexington Herald-Leader
Trying to salvage a controversial experiment to confront rising drug costs, the Obama administration Tuesday hinted at modifications to an ambitious plan that would revamp Medicare payments.
Source: Medicare weighs changes to controversial plan on cancer meds | Lexington Herald-Leader
Tip – Call the TOLL-FREE # on your Insurance Card. It’s there for a reason.
Inevitably each year there are a number of problems that come up with clients where they receive bills they were not expecting. Nearly 100% the time the problem can be traced back to the same problem; the client screwed up. That’s the only way I know to say it. Nearly every time they went somewhere, received some service or treatment, and never gave any thought to if the procedure or treatment was covered, or if the person performing the procedure or treatment was “in-network” or not. Folks, whether you are in an HMO or a PPO or an RPPO, it’s ALWAYS important to talk to your insurance company about ANY procedure or treatment you need done. It’s also important that you whip out those insurance cards every time you see your doctor or service provider. AND, be sure that you ask new doctors or providers the right questions. Do NOT ask them, if they “take ________ insurance”. They will always be happy to take your insurance card, and file the claim it seems. They do not necessarily care though if the company pays the claim or not. If they do not collect the money from the insurance company, they know they can later bill you for it. You were the one that received the treatment or service. Right? What you want to ask them always is if they are “”in network” for ______ insurance.” That’s the question to ask. And, make sure that your doctors are using “in network” options on all your tests, labs, etc.
I have had a difficult case this year where the client did most everything right, but STILL ended up receiving bills he was responsible for. He visits the doctor about every 90 days for blood work. He did the right thing by asking the doctor to use Labcorp for his blood draws, and the doctor even wrote that on his referral. It says it really clear… “Labcorp” and then has their provider number right there on the referral. A couple of months after he had the blood draw he received a bill for like $95. After 20 hours of research on my part I think I figured out what happened. The doctor intended for Labcorp to do the blood draw… and they did, BUT, the analysis work that was done on the blood ended up being done as a hospital service by the hospital that is over this doctor’s practice. And because the blood was analyzed by the hospitals people, it was due a $95 copay. The client did everything right I feel. He told the doctor he needed Labcorp to do the blood work. And they did. But, I think either the doctor or the hospital messed up when they did the work. Either the doctor only indicated that the blood was to be drawn by Labcorp and no instructions on where to process it, or the hospital just billed incorrectly. Either way, it was a mess. And, still to this moment, my client is stuck with this bill. I am telling you now guys; always, always, always be specific about the services and treatments and providers you are using. If you are not, you will get bills from time to time, and if you are like me, you just HATE these sorts of surprises. Call the numbers on the back of your cards and verify where and how to get all your procedures and services and treatments performed BEFORE you receive them. That is the best advice I can ever offer.
Sanders-Brown Center on Aging | Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
Source: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging | Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
5th Annual MARKESBERY SYMPOSIUM ON AGING AND DEMENTIA
Community Session
Saturday, November 21, 2015
8:30 am – 12 noon
Lexington Convention Center
Bluegrass Room
430 W Vine
Lexington, KY 40507
The University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging presents the 5th Annual Markesbery Symposium on Aging and Dementia (flyer attached). The public is invited to attend this free informational program on Alzheimer’s disease to be held on Sat, Nov 21, 2015 at the Lexington Convention Center. The symposium will kick off at 8:30 AM with check-in and continental breakfast. Dr. Ronald Petersen of Mayo Clinic, who treated former President Ronald Reagan and singer/songwriter Glenn Campbell, will be the keynote speaker. The program will also include several presentations designed to highlight research and promote normal, healthy brain aging, and conclude with a question and answer session on memory and brain health issues.
The events are free and open to the public; however, you must register to attend. For more information or to register visit www.centeronaging.uky.edu, phone 859.323.6040 or email paula.thomason@uky.edu. Complimentary parking will be available in the High Street parking lot.
2016 “Medicare & You” Manual
St. Elizabeth’s Healthcare to Leave Medicare Select Network in Kentucky
August 20, 2015
We at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) are committed to providing our members with access and choice for their medical care. One way we do this is by contracting with hospitals and physicians to participate in our provider networks. We have been in negotiations with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky, and they have decided to end their participation in our Medicare Select network effective January 1, 2016.
There will no longer be Medicare Select facilities in the Kentucky counties of Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton. St. Elizabeth Healthcare has been a part of the extensive network for over 15 years, and we are clearly disappointed that they have made this decision. We will continue to talk with St. Elizabeth Healthcare in hopes of reaching an agreement.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare operates six facilities in Covington and other parts of Northern Kentucky:
| St. Elizabeth Covington 1500 James Simpson Jr Way Covington KY 41011St. Elizabeth Edgewood 1 Medical Village Dr. Edgewood, KY 41017 St. Elizabeth Falmouth |
St. Elizabeth Florence 4900 Houston Road Florence, KY 41042St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas 85 N. Grand Ave. Fort Thomas, KY 41075 St. Elizabeth Grant |
We will be notifying our members by letter the first of September, which will include several options regarding their health coverage. We will also include in the mailing a listing of other Medicare Select plan facilities in KY and OH.
The health coverage options listed in the letter for the member are:
- Continue with the current Medicare Select coverage. Emergency services may still be provided at a St. Elizabeth Healthcare facility at the highest benefit level, but elective inpatient care should be sought at one of our other Medicare Select network facilities.
- Consider another Anthem Medicare Supplement Plan with equal or lesser benefits.
- Choose an Anthem or other Medicare Advantage plan during the upcoming Annual Election Period (October 15 through December 7).
Anthem has participating facilities in the Metropolitan Cincinnati area that your clients might consider using for elective inpatient admissions. Emergency admissions do not require network use for maximum benefits. See the links above for those providers in close proximity to the Metropolitan Cincinnati area.
At Anthem, we’re committed to helping you succeed. We know you are a huge part of our strength and success, and we value your trust and partnership.
Bluegrass ADD – Pathways Resource Guide 2014 – 2015
Source: Bluegrass ADD – Pathways Resource Guide 2014 – 2015
A wonderful guide for seniors. Providers, services, ideas… all in there to assist.