The Medicare Annual Open Enrollment Period is now upon us! If you are Medicare eligible, this is the time of year to review your options and decide which plan best fits your needs for 2014. Now through December 7th, you have the opportunity to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or switch your Medicare coverage for a January 1, 2014 effective date.

In order to make sure you find the Medicare Advantage plan that is best for you, Independent Health invites you to visit one of our Medicare Information Centers* for your exclusive RedShirt® Benefit Review. Meet one-on-one with a friendly and knowledgeable RedShirt who will review all your plan options with you, as well as help you determine if you qualify for Extra Help or assistance paying for your plan premiums/prescription drug costs.

Independent Health’s Medicare Information Centers open to the entire community

To ensure that Western New Yorkers are well-informed when it comes to their Medicare coverage, there are several Independent Health Medicare Information Centers throughout the region that will be open during the open enrollment period, including our year-round sites in Cheektowaga/Depew, Orchard Park and Williamsville. Our Medicare Information Centers are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

Williamsville – New location!
Independent Health Family Branch YMCA
150 Tech Dr.

Cheektowaga/Depew
Valu Plaza
(Across from Wegmans)
620 Dick Road

Lakewood
Independent Health
66 Chautauqua Avenue

Orchard Park
Tops Plaza
(Near Tim Hortons)
3223 Southwestern Boulevard

Tonawanda
Youngmann Plaza
746 Young Street

Please note: To assist individuals on the final day of the open enrollment period, all of these centers will also be open on Saturday, December 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A variety of plans to choose from in 2014

Independent Health will continue to offer plans that are designed to meet our Medicare Advantage members’ individual needs. This includes Independent Health’s Encompass 65® Essential HMO-POS plan, which is our $0 monthly premium plan with prescription coverage.

In addition, Independent Health has introduced a new plan called Independent Health’s Network AdvantageSM HMO Plan, which is available to Erie and Niagara County residents. This unique plan will give members access to a network of primary care doctors who will work together with dedicated care coordinators and specialists to make sure our members are receiving the quality care they deserve.

Network Advantage members will also have prescription coverage and enjoy great cost savings, including $5 copays for primary care doctor visits, in-patient hospital copays as low as $400 and a monthly plan premium of $37.20 (Members who qualify for EPIC or Full Extra Help may have their monthly premium lowered to $0).

The many benefits of Independent Health’s Medicare Advantage Plans

Our Medicare Advantage plans feature comprehensive benefits designed to help our members maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. For example, our Healthy Benefits fitness benefit allows our members to join a participating fitness location of their choice and have access to the facility’s amenities—treadmills, free weights, fitness classes and more. We also provide vision and preventive dental coverage on most plans.

To make it easy for our members to take control of their health, Independent Health covers nearly 50 preventive services** at a $0 copayment. These services include mammograms, cholesterol screenings, colonoscopies, and bone density/osteoporosis screenings. Plus, members who like to travel can rest easy knowing that all of our plans cover emergency and urgent care outside of Western New York.

We’re here to help!

If you have any questions about Independent Health’s Medicare Advantage plans, please call us at (716) 635-4900 or 1-800-958-4405, Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users: 1-888-357-9167. You can also visit our website at independenthealth.com/medicare to view and compare all of our 2014 plan options.

Independent Health is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract offering HMO, HMO-SNP, HMO-POS and PPO plans. Enrollment in Independent Health depends on contract renewal.

Benefits vary by plan. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

*A sales representative will be present to assist with information and applications. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings, please call (716) 635-4900 or 1 (800) 958-4405, Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY users: 1-888-357-9167.

**Not all preventive services are medically appropriate each year. Independent Health uses the frequency guidelines adopted by CMS and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Y0042_C4080 Accepted 10142013