The pandemic is affecting even Medicare these days.

A new Medicare beneficiary told the Medicare counselor that she had the Oregon Health Plan and that her Medicare began in October when she turned 65. She wanted to know if she needed to do anything.

The counselor told her that she needed to ensure she had drug insurance that covered her medications. A quick phone call to a state hotline determined that, because of her limited income, Medicare had already enrolled her in prescription drug insurance that would cover all of her prescriptions.

The Medicare counselor advised her that if she eventually loses her Oregon Health Plan coverage, she may want to consider additional medical insurance. Under the state’s pandemic emergency order, her Oregon Health Plan (a form of Medicaid) will continue at least through January. When the emergency order expires, she would receive a written notice if she were going to lose Oregon Health Plan coverage.

If you wish to make an appointment with Medicare counselor or ask a Medicare question to be answered here, please see the end of this column.

I’m perfectly capable of using Medicare.gov to review Medicare Advantage plans. But once I choose a plan, is there anything else I should know?

Be sure to enroll by Dec. 7. If you choose a new insurance plan, coverage will begin Jan. 1. Be sure your doctors accept the plan – that is, that they are “in network.” To find out, call your doctor’s office or the insurance company.

Make certain the plan covers your prescriptions. Assuming you want to cover both medical care and prescriptions, be sure to select such a plan as Medicare.gov mixes those that do and don’t cover drugs. If you enroll in a new insurance plan to start Jan. 1, your current plan will automatically end when the new one takes effect.

My dad lives in another state and needs to talk with Social Security. I gave him the phone number for the Salem office, but he wants to speak with someone in an office nearer him in Ohio. How can I help him find that number?

If you have Internet access, go online to ssa.gov/locator. Scroll down to the blue tab that says Locate An Office By Zip. Enter your dad’s ZIP Code to see his nearest office with its phone number and address. If you don’t have Internet access, then call the Salem office (866-593-1559) where someone could find the phone number for you.

I have straight Medicare and some friends are encouraging me to enroll in an additional insurance plan. How would my coverage be different if I did?

If you have Medicare only, you are paying 20% of your costs for doctor visits and many other medical services. If a doctor’s visit has a charge of $150, then you are paying $30. Likewise, if you are hospitalized, your share of the cost with straight Medicare may be higher than with additional Medicare coverage insurance.

The principal options are Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplemental insurance. With Medicare Advantage, office co-pays to see a physician normally range from nothing to $25, depending on the plan you choose, or $35 to $50 to see a specialist. For hospitalization, your costs would vary, with many plans being less than what you would pay with straight Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans have a limit on how much you could be charged annually for medical care while straight Medicare has no limit.

With most Medigap supplemental insurance policies, you would pay nothing for doctor visits or hospitalization although your monthly premium would be higher than for most Medicare Advantage plans.

I’m retired, about to turn 65 and will enroll in Medicare. I want to wait a few years before taking my Social Security. Does starting Medicare require me to take Social Security, too?

No. Social Security and Medicare are separate benefit programs. You may defer Social Security as long as you like although your benefit will stop growing when you turn 70.

CORRECTION: Last month’s column answered a question about Medicare coverage when traveling outside the United States. A list of Medigap supplemental policies that pay 80% of emergency costs outside of the U.S. omitted one type of policy. This is the corrected list: Plans C, D, F, G, M, N, F-high deductible and G-high deductible.

Jim Sellers of Salem is a certified Medicare counselor with the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program. To ask a question to be answered in this column, e-mail [email protected]. To schedule a free SHIBA phone appointment with a volunteer Medicare counselor, call 800-722-4134.

By Salem Reporter