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1 It s Our Anniversary 2015 is the 75th Anniversary for Abel Insurance Agency! If you have any testimonials or stories about how your family started with AIA that you would like to submit for our agency web page, please drop them by your local office or send to: [email protected] Thank you for being part of our family! Inside This Issue: Medicare Coverage Choices 2-4 Medicare RX 3-4 Medigap & Birthday Rule 5 Medicare Enrollment 5-8 The AIA History 9 AIA Anniversary Celebration 10 Referral Program & Winners Second Street Gold Beach Newport Ln. Coos Bay 875 Hwy SW Seventh Florence Newport

2 Medicare Coverage Choices There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Some people get additional coverage, like Medicare prescription drug coverage or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Use these steps to help you decide what coverage you want: Step 1: Decide if you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Like an HMO or PPO) What's Original Medicare? Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Who provides coverage? Medicare How do you choose your providers? You have your choice of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that accept Medicare. How much does it cost? Most people pay the Part B premium of $ each month, if you sign up for Part B when you're first eligible. Generally, you pay a deductible and coinsurance for your Part A and Part B services. If you choose to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy (see Step 3), your Medigap policy may pay some of these costs. page 2

3 What's Medicare Advantage (MA)? Sometimes called "Part C" includes both Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Who provides coverage? Private insurance companies approved by Medicare. How do you choose your providers? In most MA plans, you need to use plan doctors, hospitals, and other providers or you pay more or all of the costs. How much does it cost? Most people pay the Part B premium of $ each month, if you sign up for Part B when you're first eligible. You usually pay a monthly premium for your MA Plan (in addition to your monthly Part B premium). You may pay a copayment or coinsurance for covered services. Costs, extra coverage, and rules vary by plan. Step 2: Decide if you want prescription drug coverage (Part D) If you chose Original Medicare: If you want prescription drug coverage, you must choose and join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. You usually pay a monthly premium. These plans are run by private companies approved by Medicare. If you chose a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan: If you want prescription drug coverage, and it s offered by your MA plan, in most cases you must get it through your plan. page 3

4 2 ways to get Drug Coverage Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). These plans (sometimes called PDPs ) add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for- Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans. Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) (like an HMO or PPO) or other Medicare health plan that offers Medicare prescription drug coverage. You get all of your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called MA-PDs. You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. Step 3: Decide if you want supplemental coverage If you chose Original Medicare: You may want to get coverage to help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. You can choose to buy a Medigap policy from a private company. If you chose a Medicare Advantage Plan (MA): If you join an MA Plan, you can t use Medigap insurance to pay for your plan costs, like copayments, deductibles, and premiums. Other options In addition to Original Medicare or an MA Plan, you may be able to join other types of Medicare health plans. You may be able to save money or have other choices if you have limited income and resources. You may also have other coverage, like employer or union, military, or veterans benefits. page 4

5 What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) A policy, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan (MA). Those plans are an alternative way to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy is a supplement to your Original Medicare benefits. Medicare beneficiaries with a policy issued any time after January 1 st,1990 now have a yearly opportunity to change plans and carriers as long as switching to the same plan type or one with lesser benefits. Availability to change starts on your birthday and remains available for 30 days. This is guaranteed, regardless of your health. Contact your agent at Abel Insurance for assistance. page 5 Medigap plans - New Birthday Rule Joining Medicare: Enrollment T here are specific times when you can sign up for these plans, or make changes to coverage you already have. You don t need to sign up for Medicare each year. However, each year you ll have a chance to review your coverage and change plans.

6 Initial Enrollment Period for Part C & Part D Newly eligible for Medicare at age 65. What to do? Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan and/or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. When? During the 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after you ask to join a plan. If you join during one of the 3 months before you turn 65, your coverage will begin the first day of the month you turn 65. Newly eligible for Medicare because of a disability (under 65). What to do? Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Your Medicare coverage begins 24 months after you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) disability benefits. When? During the 7-month period that starts 3 months before your 25th month of getting Social Security or RRB disability benefits and ends 3 months after your 25th month of getting disability benefits. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after you ask to join a plan. If you join during one of the 3 months before you first get Medicare, your coverage will begin the first day of your 25th month of entitlement to disability payments. page 6

7 Eligible for Medicare because of a disability, and I turned 65. What to do? Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan and/or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Switch from your current Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another plan. Drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan completely. When? During the 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan during this time, you can drop that plan at any time during the next 12 months and go back to Original Medicare. No Medicare Part A coverage, and enrolled in Medicare Part B during the Part B General Enrollment Period ( January 1 March 31). What to do? Sign up for a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. page 7 When? April 1 June 30 Have Medicare Part A coverage, and enrolled in Medicare Part B during the Part B General Enrollment Period ( January 1 March 31). What to do? Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). When? April 1 June 30 Annual Open Enrollment Period for Part C & Part D Each year, you have a chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year.

8 Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn t offer drug coverage. Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another Medicare drug plan. Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely. When? October 15 December 7 During Annual Open Enrollment Medicare Beneficiaries can: Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare. Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage. page 8

9 Coos Bay. Chester Isaacson left the Huggins agency and started his agency from scratch in Harry Abel Sr., was injured 1954 in a logging accident (1953) and after recovering, joined Chester Isaacson s insurance agency. After 8 weeks on the job, the responsibility of running the agency was delegated to Harry Abel Sr. Harry eventually purchased the agency from Chester & the name became Isaccson & Abel Agency. Harry Abel Sr. purchased 1964 the Ed Publicover Insurance Agency and merged his business together. Harry began building The Abel Building at 490 West Commercial. The office was completed in The History of AIA Harry Abel Jr. joined the 1970 agency. The name changed to Harry Abel Insurance Agency. Harry Sr. retired. Ron Swank purchased 50% of the agency. The name was changed to Abel & Swank Insurance Managers The Gold Beach Office Opened. page 9 The Brookings-Harbor branch opened Florence branch opened. Ron Swank retired. Wendy Abel- Hatzel took over as the business manager for the entire agency. The centralized processing center was opened in Coos Bay. The decision was made to 2000 change the business name to Abel Insurance Agency to reflect the Abel family ownership. The Security Bank building was purchased and the Coos Bay branch was moved to the new location Expanded to Lincoln County with the purchase of the Crosno & Jones Agency. An office was opened in Newport, Oregon to better serve Lincoln County

10 Each office celebration will have Refreshments & give away items Plus enter a drawing for $75 cash in honor of the agency's 75th anniversary Newport Tuesday, October 6 th 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Florence Wednesday, October 7 th 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Coos Bay Thursday, October 8 th 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Gold Beach Friday, October 9 th 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Upcoming Dates to Remember Medicare Open Enrollment for MA & RX October 15 th - December 7 th Individual Healthcare Open Enrollment November 15 th, January 31 st, 2016 No Additional Cost for Agent Assistance! Call today to schedule an appointment! page 10

11 Agency Referral Program We enjoy discovering why new customer s have contacted our agency. Each time someone gives your name as the reason they have contacted our agency for their insurance needs, we will send you a new $2 bill and automatically enter your name for our quarterly drawing of a $50 gift certificate to one of the following restaurants: Bandon Dairy Queen Bandon Rancho Viejo Brown Hen Burrito Amigos Taqueria Captain s Choice China Bay Ciccarelli s Coney Station Creswell Dairy Queen Double D s Firehouse Florence Dairy Queen Hook d Cafe Gold Beach Dairy Queen Ichiban Restaurant ICM Kathleen & Nina's Los Amigos Burrito Maverick s Natures Corner Newport Izzy s Pizza Bar & Classic Buffet Outdoor-In Pancake Mill Playa Del Sol Port & Starboard Portside Rollin In Dough Silver Hook Spinners Superfly Walt's Pourhouse Wongs Café Congrats to Referral Winner: Spring 2015 winner: Angel Bacon page 11

12 Corporate Office Mailing Address PO Box 1780 Coos Bay, OR Phone: