If you are receiving Medicare benefits or if you are caring for a parent or friend who is receiving Medicare benefits, please note the following.

Medicare Cost Plans, a type of Medicare plan very popular in Minnesota and Olmsted County, will be ending on December 31, 2018.  Cost Plans in Olmsted County are ending because a law passed by Congress will eliminate the Cost plans in counties that have at least two other coverage choices (Known as Medicare Advantage) that meet enrollment requirements.

People who are impacted by the Cost Plan changes, will receive notices from Medicare and their Cost Plan in September.  Read and keep every piece of mail you receive from Medicare and your plan information.  The notices you receive will provide information about the changes.  If the Cost Plan changes affect you, you will need to take action to make sure you have the coverage you need on January 1, 2019.

Know your options.

There will be plenty of time to learn about your plan choices and to make the best decisions.  You can connect with helpful information by calling the Senior LinkAge line to find about how learn about your options by calling 1-800-333-2433 (Senior LinkAge line Number).  You can also learn information by visiting www.medicare.gov

Keep and eye out for mail from your plan and Medicare in the September.

Remember enrollment in new plans can be done October 15 – December 7, 2018.

This information is reprinted from the Southeast Area Agency on Aging newsletter.  For more information go to: www.semaaarochestermn.org  or http://semaaarochestermn.org/summer-2018-newsletter/their phone number is 507.288.6944. A great Source of information for this and other aging issues is the Senior LinkAge Line 800.333.2433 or see their website at http://www.mnaging.org/advisor/SLL.htm