Medicare beneficiaries can expect changes next year when key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act take effect, and AARP Hawaii and the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program have planned forums in Hilo and Kona to help people review their benefits and choose appropriate plans during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
The biggest change to Medicare is a cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Part D drug plans to $2,000. The change means a savings of about $1,500 annually on prescription drug copays for more than 10% of people with a drug insurance plan who do not receive subsidies. The prescription drug cost cap takes effect Jan. 1.
“The Medicare prescription drug cap could mean changes to Medicare drug insurance plan fees and coverage so it’s especially important that people review and compare their Medicare supplement insurance plans this year to make sure they have access to the drugs they need at the best prices,” said Keali‘i Lopez, AARP Hawaii state director. “The Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program or Hawaii SHIP provides help to consumers using trained volunteers so they you can get information on Medicare insurance without a sales pitch.”
AARP Hawaii is part of the nonprofit side of AARP and does not sell health insurance.
The forum in Hilo will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kinoole St.
The Kona workshop will be on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the West Hawaii Civic Center,74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona. The forums run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
For those who can’t make it, a Zoom webinar will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Nov. 12.
Space is limited, and people can register to reserve a space for the in-person and virtual events at aarp.org/local or on the events tab at the AARP Hawaii Facebook page.