[October 06, 2015]

Inter Valley Health Plan Offers Three Ways to Succeed During Medicare's Open Enrollment

This year marked a milestone for Medicare, celebrating 50 years in July. To date, more than 50 million individuals aged 65 or older are receiving Medicare and 91 percent say the program is working well, according to a national poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation in July 2015. However, USA Today reported this summer that anecdotal evidence suggests many enrollees are perplexed by what Medicare covers and what it doesn't cover.

Recognizing how important it is for individuals to choose the best and most appropriate Medicare plan coverage to meet their needs, Inter Valley Health Plan (www.IVHP.com), a not-for-profit Medicare Advantage Health Plan in the Inland Empire, can help enrollees understand the pitfalls to avoid during open enrollment (Oct. 15 through Dec. 7) for Medicare Advantage.

"It's not unusual for individuals preparing for Medicare to be overwhelmed and confused by the enrollment process," says Ronald Bolding, president and CEO, Inter Valley Health Plan. "It's critical that enrollees determine what is important for them from a health, budget and services standpoint. It's our job to continue to educate and let them know they are not alone in this decision."

Inter Valley Health Plan has served the Southern California community for over 36 years and are experts in helping older adults navigate the often complex and ever-changing Medicare landscape. Among the most common mistakes older adults make when enrolling is failing to understand what Medicare Advantage pans cover and how those options meet their needs. Here are three steps to guide older adults during open enrollment.

Three Ways to Succeed When Choosing Your Medicare Plan:

1. Recognize that the federal government rates plans on a scale from 1 to 5. This quality factor is important because it can mean the difference between enrolling in a plan with a limited network of doctors and hospitals or one that includes the best providers in your area. It also can mean the difference between getting the help you need when you call for advice and being put on hold waiting to talk with a person instead of a machine.
2. Remember that most Medicare Advantage plans have low or no monthly premiums, which make them attractive, but some may also have deductibles and copayments. Enrollees should calculate how much they expect to spend on health care based on what they've spent in recent years, and then match that expected spending level to the best health plan options.
3. Consider which extra services, such as dental, vision care and gym memberships you may want. Many, but not all, Medicare Advantage plans include vision coverage, and some will reimburse for some or all of the cost of a belonging to a health club.

"I was lucky to have a background in healthcare along with a recommendation for a health plan when it was time to enroll in Medicare, but had I not been so fortunate, I would have been incredibly overwhelmed, says Barbara Gagner, a new Medicare enrollee based in Upland, CA (News - Alert). "I would advise new enrollees to definitely do their homework so they can make an educated decision but also choose a plan close to home that is approachable and available to help walk you through this process. That made all the difference for me."

To kick off the Medicare Open Enrollment season, Inter Valley Health Plan is hosting an "Open House" at their community Medicare Information & Vitality (News - Alert) Centers to answer questions. For more information, click here.

For more information about Inter Valley Health Plan's Medicare Advantage Plans and for guides, checklists and resources about Medicare, visit www.IVHP.com.

About Inter Valley Health Plan

Inter Valley Health Plan is a not-for-profit, federally qualified, HMO contracted with Medicare and dedicated to providing the best value in senior health care coverage. Headquartered in Pomona, Calif., Inter Valley Health Plan strives to improve the quality of life for seniors throughout its service area and is one of the oldest managed health care plans in Southern California with over 36 years in business. Entrusted by 20,881 individuals stretching from Los Angeles to Orange (News - Alert) County to Palm Springs, Riverside, Hemet, Victorville, Temecula, and virtually every city and town in between, Inter Valley Health Plan is dedicated to keeping its members healthy and strong, while maintaining non-profit and real service values. For more information, please visit www.IVHP.com or call Cyndie O'Brien, VP Member Services, (909) 623-6333. Also, please become a fan on Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151006005374/en/

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