Category 1: Extra Help & Saving Mone
Clue: This program helps lower-income seniors pay for their monthly prescription drug costs, copays, and deductibles.
Answer: What is Extra Help (or Low Income Subsidy)?
Clue: The amount you pay out-of-pocket for your annual Medicare preventive wellness visit with an in-network doctor.
What is $0 (Free)?
Clue: Fact or Fiction: Medicare will randomly call you on the phone asking you to verify your Medicare card number.
Answer: What is Fiction? (Medicare will never call uninvited to ask for your card number or personal information)
The official 24/7 toll-free phone number you can call for general Medicare questions.
What is 1-800-MEDICARE?
Clue: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and go to a specialist doctor, the set dollar amount (like $15 or $30) you pay at check-in is called this.
Answer: What is a Copay?
Clue: State programs that can help pay for your monthly Medicare Part B premium if you meet income limits.
Answer: What are Medicare Savings Programs?
Clue: Routine flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, and Shingrix (shingles vaccine) are covered at this cost to you.
Answer: What is $0 (Free)?
You should only share your Medicare number with your trusted doctors, pharmacists, and this type of licensed professional.
What is a licensed insurance agent or advisor?
The government agency that handles your Medicare enrollment, address changes, and Extra Help applications.
What is the Social Security Administration (SSA)?
Clue: The list of doctors and hospitals that have agreed to work with your specific insurance plan.
What is a Provider Network?
True or False: If you qualify for Extra Help, you do not have to pay a late penalty for prescription drug coverage.
Answer: What is True?
Clue: Many Medicare Advantage plans give you a quarterly card allowance to buy everyday items like toothpaste, aspirin, and vitamins.
Answer: What is an Over-the-Counter (OTC) allowance?
If a stranger calls offering a "free medical device" or "free DNA test kit" and asks for your Medicare ID, you should do this immediately.
What is hang up the phone!!!
Clue: In Pennsylvania, this free state program (PA MEDI / SHIP) provides unbiased, 1-on-1 counseling to help seniors compare plans.
What is PA MEDI (or SHIP)?
The official list of prescription drugs covered by your Medicare prescription plan.
Answer: What is a Formulary?
Clue: Thanks to federal updates, total out-of-pocket spending for covered Part D prescriptions is capped at this maximum amount per year.
Answer: What is $2,400?
Clue: Programs like SilverSneakers offer Medicare Advantage plan members free access to these types of places.
Answer: What are local gyms or fitness centers?
Fact or Fiction: Sales agents are allowed to show up uninvited and knock on your door at your residence to sell Medicare plans.
What is Fiction? (Unsolicited door-to-door selling of Medicare products is strictly prohibited)
Clue: The official official handbook mailed to all Medicare households every fall detailing plans and rules for the coming year.
Answer: What is the "Medicare & You" handbook?
Clue: Approval from your insurance company required before receiving certain specialized tests, procedures, or medications.
Answer: What is Prior Authorization?
Clue: A plan designed specifically for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid to give them extra support and low out-of-pocket costs.
Answer: What is a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)?
Clue: Services like routine dental cleanings, eyeglasses, and hearing aids are often added as extra perks by these private Medicare plans.
Answer: What are Medicare Advantage plans?
This nationwide volunteer program (known as SMP) helps seniors spot, prevent, and report suspicious Medicare billing errors or scams.
Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging is 570-963-6740
The monthly statement sent to you showing what medical services were billed to Medicare and what amount you might owe.
Answer: What is an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)?
Clue: The maximum amount you can be required to pay out-of-pocket for covered medical services in a single calendar year under a Medicare Advantage plan.
Answer: What is the Maximum Out-of-Pocket limit (MOOP)?