CHOOSE A MEDICARE PLAN THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU

Consider your health care needs over the long term as you weigh costs and coverage.

- SANDRA BLOCK

WHEN President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill creating Medicare in 1965, the goal of the legislation was straightforward: provide government-funded health insurance for older Americans. Within the first two years, about 20 million individuals had enrolled.

Today, Medicare is more popular than ever, but it has become increasingly difficult to navigate. If you’re approaching your 65th birthday, you’ve probably already received a mountain of mail and a flurry of phone calls from insurance companies promoting Medicare Advantage and medigap plans. You’ve probably also seen TV commercials featuring well-preserved celebrities extolling the multiple benefits available to Medicare Advantage participants. Nearly all Americans 65 and older say they’ve seen some marketing for Medicare plans, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit health care research group, and onethird of those the group surveyed say they have received seven or more phone calls a week from companies marketing the plans.

The aggressive marketing reflects a big change from the early days of Medicare, when the program was administered by the federal government and seniors’ only real decision was when to sign up. Over the past 25 years, private insurers have become an increasingly important component of Medicare, offering more choices for consumers but also more potential for confusion. The plan you choose will affect the quality of your care and your out-ofpocket costs, which can be substantial. For that reason, when the time comes to enroll in Medicare, it’s critical to review the pros and cons of the plans available to you.