Retirees' Newsletter
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Retirees’ Newsletter November 2015 TCURA established 1983 Volume 36, Number 4 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT... TCU RETIREES’ NOVEMBER PROGRAM Bud Kennedy Bud Kennedy is the speaker for this Fort Worth’s friend, month’s program. The Star-Telegram columnist, a native of the city, knows Fort foodie and part-time pundit Worth—its history, its culture, its dining scene, local and state politics and much Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist more. Since 1987 he has written more than 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 19 a thousand weekly dining columns and D.J. Kelly Alumni & Visitor’s Center more than three thousand news and Parking in the Center’s Lot politics columns for the Fort Worth Star- Arranged With TCU Police. Telegram. In addition, he is a frequent Reservations Required. contributor to television discussions of Texas politics and, having attended TCU, The reservation deadline for this he is a knowledgeable commentator on luncheon is mid-afternoon Monday, matters pertaining to the University. November 16. Send an email to Opinion columns by Kennedy appear Stan Hagadone at [email protected] on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. or call 972.393.8688 and leave your Look also for his food columns during the message on the answering machine. week. Sundays he is on WFAA/Channel 8’s “Inside Texas Politics.” Pay $11 per meal at the door. Please honor your reservation to avoid being billed. UPCOMING RETIREE’S If you or your guest have dietary LUNCHEON MEETINGS restrictions, please specify these in making your reservations. Wednesday, December 9 Attendees who do not want Holiday Luncheon with to eat still need to make TCU Student Brass reservations, but please Quartet playing designate that you will holiday not be eating so that a meal music will not be ordered for you. Thursday, Jan. 28 Wednesday, Feb. 24 Look for Carolyn Cagle’s column, Health Help Now, on Medicare Open Enrollment on Page Two. 2 November 2015 TCU Retirees’ Newsletter Federally Funded Health Insurance Programs and Changes Howdy, Fellow Retirees! ers. It does have a deductible. The Fall is well upon us, providing a current year is the most recent data panoramic overview of colors and available at the Medicare web- tantalizing smells blending summer’s site because the U.S. government end with hints of winter’s coming. makes the 2016 decision in October/ I hope you find time and energy to November each year. This year enjoy the wonders of this season! HEALTH HELP NOW the deductible (amount of money Last fall I covered various options by Carolyn Cagle retiree pays before insurance policy to Medicare health insurance cover- provides benefits [services]) was age in several columns. With Medi- your particular questions will help $1260.00 per 60-day benefit period care’s open enrollment during Octo- you navigate information on Medicare (see Medicare & You 2016, p. 40). ber 15 – December 7, 2015, it seems options and benefits (see pp. 17-22 to Virtually all persons choosing Tradi- appropriate to focus again on retirees’ get started). tional Medicare have Medicare Part A. federally funded health insurance pro- This month’s newsletter provides Medicare Part A also covers costs grams and changes proposed for 2016 an overview of Traditional Medicare. associated with skilled nursing care, (in bold). Remember that you may In coming months, this column will hospice (end-of-life care from and choose to continue your current Medi- consider Medicare Advantage plans organization vs. palliative care) and care plan or change to a different one (Medicare Part C or a managed care home health care (care provided after during open enrollment (see Medicare approach), Medigap policies and hospitalization) of an ill person (see & You 2016 book, p. 13). Medicare Medicare D (drug coverage and “do- Medicare & You 2016, pp. 37-41). plans may change each year, so it is nut hole” options for retirees) to give These services, occurring in a Medi- important to read “annual notices of you information to inform your health care certified facility, allow Medicare changes” (ANOC) for any current or care choices for the coming year and reimbursement and lower the financial future Medicare policy. Changes sup- beyond. burden for a Medicare recipient (you). port Medicare program 2016 goals Traditional Medicare (original) Medicare reimburses health care for more preventive services, lower includes two parts: Medicare Part A providers and hospitals to get a person drug and enrollee costs, less fraud, and Medicare Part B. Most retirees well enough to leave a hospital for and more innovative ways to extend have Traditional Medicare (68%). a set number of skilled nursing care future Medicare funding. The program reflects an 80/20 plan: days in outpatient facilities before If you need help with open enroll- Medicare pays for 80% of health care home discharge. Medicare and pri- ment and interpreting health plan costs and beneficiary (you) pay the vate health insurance companies en- options and health care services other 20%. Medigap private insur- courage evidence-based care to define (benefits), there are various resources ance policies help in covering this needed recovery care for a person and available. The OneExchange online 20%. In 2016, Traditional Medicare to decrease health care costs. Gen- and phone connection provided by will cover more preventive services erally no limits exist for length of hos- TCU may clarify options for Medi- (see Medicare & You 2016). The pice and home health care. Recipients care coverage to best meet your book is testimony to a recognition of of home health care generally must unique needs. Tracy Thompson (TCU the economic and social benefits of improve to continue to receive home Retirement Program Manager) can preventing illness, rather than simply care. Evidence shows that Medicare assist in interpreting Medicare and treating it. saves money and persons have better a new national advocacy program Medicare Part A generally means health outcomes with recent Medicare (Patient Care) for TCU retirees. “inpatient” (hospital) insurance and programs (“transitional care”) that Careful reading and consideration of does not involve a monthly premium efficiently connect inpatient (hospital) content in a reformatted Medicare & (amount of money paid for Medicare You 2016 and referral to websites for A coverage) for long employed work- More HEALTH HELP on P3 November 2015 TCU Retirees’ Newsletter 3 HEALTH HELP from P2 Traditional Medicare does not pay retiree! The following suggestions may for eyeglasses (except after cataract increase your feelings of control over services with those in skilled nursing surgery, (see Medicare & You 2016, p. this issue: read carefully the Medicare facilities (SNF). 54), hearing aids, dental care, hear- & You 2016 book to understand your Medicare Part B generally refers ing exams in most cases, nor custodial coverage and options in Traditional to “outpatient’ (out of the acute facil- care (care given to a person who will Medicare; ask your doctor or other ity – hospital) care. Although most never recover full health). Recently informed member to help interpret in- Medicare recipients have Medicare Medicare began a program offering formation to advocate for your health; Part A (no monthly premium), retir- one free wellness visit for each Medi- read widely in relevant magazines ees and other Medicare beneficiaries care recipient, not an actual physical (The AARP Magazine and Consumer may choose to pay for Medicare Part visit, although Medicare will cover one Reports are good sources). To become B (95% of beneficiaries do). Part B “welcome to Medicare” physical when an even more informed health care covers doctor visits, emergency room, one starts Medicare coverage. Overall, consumer, use resources, such as social ambulance, x-rays and diagnostic as- Medicare Part A and B generally cover workers connected to your place of sessment and therapy (occupational, 80% of “reasonable and customary” care, to help with hospital and home speech, physical) outside-of-hospital costs dictated by your living area, care issues; surf www.Medicare.gov to costs. Monthly Medicare Part B costs type of provider, etc. This leaves most identify program health care costs; and, ($104.90/month, deductible $147.00/ retirees with gaps in desired health collaborate with your health care team year in 2015), normally are deducted care coverage and leads to higher to get the cost-effective and quality from a retiree’s Social Security check. retiree costs. Other options to Tradi- care that you deserve. Individuals earning more than $85,000 tional Medicare (Medicare C, Medigap Next month this column will con- a year and couples earning more than policies, and Medicare D) provide tinue coverage of Medicare options $170,000 a year pay more for Medi- coverage for these gaps (insurance de- and recent changes to these options. care. Persons not receiving Social Se- ductibles, drugs, etc.) based on policy. Meanwhile, please do not hesitate to curity may pay the federal government These options will be covered in future contact me to help you as we navigate in a defined convenient method (see “Health Help Now” columns. this retirement journey together. Medicare & You 2016, p. 35). The complexity of Medicare Part Carolyn Spence Cagle Despite many aging persons’ needs, A and B frankly can overwhelm any [email protected] Open Enrollment for 2016 Starts for Health Insurance OneExchange Participants: Medicare plans are handled through from Human Resources. The Medicare Annual Enroll- OneExchange. Enrollment through Dental and Vision: ment Period runs from OneExchange is required Open enrollment for dental and October 15 through to maintain your Health vision plans is October 26 through December 7, 2015. Reimbursement Ac- November 6, 2015. No action is re- Contact OneEx- count. quired of you unless you wish to make change at 1-888-429-8490 Under 65 Retiree Medical: changes to your current coverage.