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1 & Medicare You 2018 This is the official government Medicare handbook. Learn about your new Medicare card (inside front cover) What Medicare covers (page 29) CENTERS for MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICESYou re getting a new Medicare card!Cards will be mailed between April 2018 April 2019 You asked, and we listened. You re getting a new Medicare card! Between April 2018 and April 2019, we ll be removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards and mailing each person a new card. This will help keep your information more secure and help protect your ll get a new Medicare Number that s unique to you, and it will only be used for your Medicare coverage. The new card won t change your coverage or benefits.

2 You ll get more information from Medicare when your new card is mailed. Here s how you can get ready: Make sure your mailing address is up to date. If your address needs to be corrected, contact Social Security at or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Beware of anyone who contacts you about your new Medicare card. We ll never ask you to give us personal or private information to get your new Medicare Number and card. Understand that mailing everyone a new card will take some time. Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend s or neighbor the most out of your Medicare coverageUse this checklist to help you get started. Learn about your Medicare choices.

3 Did you know there are different ways to get your Medicare coverage? See the next page to learn more. If you don t have Medicare, see Section 2, which starts on page 19, to find out how and when you can sign up. There may be penalties if you don t sign up when you re first eligible. Review your current coverage and compare it to other coverage options for next year to see if there s a better choice for you. See page 6 for more information. If you have other health insurance, find out how it works with Medicare. See pages 24 25. Get free help with your Medicare questions. Visit , or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

4 See pages 125 128 for the phone number. See pages 17 18 to learn about other resources that are available. Ask your doctor or other health care provider which preventive services (like screenings, shots, and tests) you should get. See pages 35 59 and look for the to learn more. Find out if you can get help paying your health and prescription drug costs. See Section 8, which starts on page 97, to see if you re eligible. Visit to access your personalized Medicare information. See pages 119-120. Help save tax dollars by choosing to access future Medicare & You handbooks electronically. See page 124 to find out Supplement InsuranceYou can add:You can also add:Option 1:Option 2:Original MedicareMedicare Advantage (Part C)Part AHospital InsurancePart BMedical InsurancePart DMedicare Prescription Drug Coverage(Most plans cover prescription drugs.)

5 If yours doesn t, you may be able to join a separate Part D plan.)Part AHospital InsurancePart BMedical InsurancePart DMedicare Prescription Drug CoverageThis includes Part A and plans are like HMOs or PPOs, andtypically include Part A, B, and D.( medigap policies help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare.) (See pages 83 96)(See pages 79 82)(See pages 65 78)(See pages 61 64)A quick look at your Medicare coverage choicesThere are 2 main choices for how you get your Medicare coverage. These choices will be explained in more detail on the next page and throughout this to consider when choosing your Medicare coverage These topics are explained in more detail throughout this MedicareMedicare AdvantageThere s no limit on how much you pay out-of pocket per year unless you have supplemental coverage.

6 CostPlans have a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, once you reach a certain limit, you ll pay nothing for covered services for the rest of the year. Medicare covers medical services and supplies in hospitals, doctors offices, and other health care settings. Services are either covered under Part A or Part B. Coverage* Plans must cover all of the services that Original Medicare covers. Plans may offer benefits that Original Medicare doesn t cover like vision, hearing, or dental. You can add a medigap policy to help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, like your deductible and coverageIt may be more cost effective for you to join a Medicare Advantage Plan because your cost sharing is lower (or included).

7 You can t use (and can t be sold) a medigap policy if you re in a Medicare Advantage ll need to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to get drug drugs* Most Medicare Advantage Plans include drug can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare. Doctor and hospital choice You may need to use health care providers who participate in the plan s network. If so, find out how close the network s doctor or pharmacies are to your home. Some plans offer out-of-network can get a snapshot of the quality of care health care providers (and facilities) give their patients by visiting Quality of care The Medicare Plan Finder at features a star rating system for Medicare plans.

8 Original Medicare generally doesn t cover care outside the You may be able to buy supplemental insurance that offers travel coverage. TravelPlans usually don t cover care you get outside of the * If you have other types of health or prescription drug coverage, check to see how it works with the type of coverage you re considering before you make any decisions or Enrollment Information You don t need to sign up for Medicare each year. However, each year you ll have a chance to review your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage and make changes. Coverage and costs change yearlyMedicare health plans and prescription drug plans can make changes each year things like cost, coverage, and which providers and pharmacies are in their networks.

9 Plans also can change their provider networks throughout the year. If you re in a Medicare health or prescription drug plan, always review the materials your plan sends you (like the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage) and make sure your plan will still meet your needs for the following year. If you re satisfied that your current plan will meet your needs for next year and it s still being offered, you don t need to do anything. Open Enrollment Period for Medicare health andprescription drug plansMark your calendar with these important dates! This may be the only chance you have each year to make a change to your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage.

10 October 1, 2017 Start comparing your coverage with other options. You may be able to save money. See page 16 for information on comparing plans. October 15 December 7, 2017 Change your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2018, if you decide to. January 1, 2018 New coverage begins if you made a change. New costs and benefit changes also begin if you keep your existing Medicare health or prescription drug coverage and your plan makes changes. Definitions of blue words are on pages 129 132. 7 9 Index 15 Section 1 Learn How Medicare Works 15 What are the different parts of Medicare?16 What are my Medicare coverage options? 17 Where can I get my questions answered?