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Medicare for HP and HPE alumni - first step. (Whether or not receiving benefits subsidized by HP or HPE.) If transitioning to Medicare soon, you have a lot of homework to do -- whether receiving company benefits or not. As one member put it: "You do need to engage in this process. Medicare does not do it for you."
If formerly a regular,
direct U.S. employee of HP or HPE -- or in the process of
leaving –
join
the HP/HPE Alumni Association. Free, thanks to supporting members. The HPAA
Benefits Forum covers topics such as COBRA and
retiree health benefits, annual enrollment, and transition
to Medicare.
General healthplan heads-up:
Technically, you have 31 days to change if you lose coverage from an employer or other plan -- or have a status change
such as marriage, divorce, or transition to Medicare.
This is not unique to HP/HPE. A fundamental principle of health insurance is
that everyone continuously pays into the overall health
insurance system pool when they are
healthy. (For example, if you don't sign up for each of the
various Medicare elements when first eligible, you pay a
late enrollment penalty for years.)
If you have such a change, contact your
HP or HPE Benefits Center ASAP -- or contact the insurance agency that you bought the plan from, such as
Alight Retiree Health Solutions (
Alight Retiree Health Solutions contacts )
"They couldn't do
the surgery because his insurance had been terminated. It took a
very long three-way phone call with the Benefits Center and [the
carrier] to
get his new coverage entered into the system."
You must examine health plan coverage every year.
Features for the same plan may change from year to year.
Plans may be closed or restructured. (One member bought a
low-cost drug plan. The plan was discontinued and they were
moved to a high-cost plan. Next year, the low-cost plan was
again available -- under a new name.) Member advice on how to compare policies:
hpalumni.org/health-compare
Medicare heads-up:
You may have to take action. "Some people get
Medicare automatically, and some have to sign up. You may
have to sign up if you're 65 (or almost 65) and not getting
Social Security."
Deadlines. "There are certain times of the year when
you can sign up or change how you get your coverage."
Don't delay. "If you sign up for Medicare Part B when
you're first eligible, you can avoid a penalty."
HPAA members advise that
you
get started three months before your Medicare start date (which
is the
start of your birth month, or the previous month if born on the
1st.) Fastest to follow these stops in order... 1. Medicare Intro You are here! 2. Medicare Basics Review Medicare works differently! You have lots of work to do. 3. Decision: Advantage vs. Original Medicare A major choice that can be hard to change. (Original Medicare is sometimes referred to as "Traditional Medicare.")
4. Medicare
not involving HP or HPE
If not receiving Medicare benefits subsidized by HP or HPE. Next step: Medicare Basics Review (Oct 18, 2023) Not officially endorsed or supported. Click to join the HPAA Question? Email us: info@hpalumni.org |
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