Turning 65?

What you need to know about Medicare

You’ve worked hard all your life, so we want to make sure you enjoy retirement. That’s why we’re giving you helpful information to make enrolling in Medicare easy.

New to Medicare

Watch these informational videos:

Medicare 101

ABCs of Medicare Advantage

Understanding Medicare and what it covers

Medicare is the federal insurance program for people age 65 or older and for some people with certain illnesses.

Here are the different types of Medicare and what they cover:

Part A covers hospital stays.
Part B covers doctor visits. All Medicare enrollees pay a Part B premium each month.
Part C (or Medicare Advantage) combines Part A and Part B coverage. It also offers additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as care advocacy and wellness programs.
Part D covers prescription drugs.

You can apply for Medicare online at socialsecurity.gov, or enroll at your local Social Security office.¹

¹(Insert group name here) recommends enrolling in Medicare as early as possible to avoid a delay in the start of your Medicare coverage, which could result in out-of-pocket expenses.

Enrolling in Medicare

For most people, the Medicare enrollment period opens three months before they turn 65 and ends three months after their birthday.

Getting to know the Medicare Advantage plan

You deserve a health plan that helps you make the most of retirement. That’s why (Insert group name here) and Aetna have teamed up to design a health plan just for you.

To learn more about the Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, call us at (Insert primary group phone here) (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. all time zones.

Transcript

{On screen} Gerald O’Hare Aetna Medicare Advantage Member

“My name is Gerry O’Hare and I live in West Deptford, New Jersey. I grew up in this area I know this area very well. I’m a Vietnam veteran. I went to college on the GI bill and I became a teacher. I taught elementary grades and in the middle school grades, in different school districts in the state of New Jersey.

When I retired, they gave me a choice of what health care company I would use, and they gave me a chart. And it was a really interesting chart, because on one side, it had the names of the companies, and as you look towards the right it was the different areas of healthcare that that company covered. Well, Aetna had all the sections covered and I’ve been happy with Aetna ever since.

I have a hearing loss from the war, and I wear hearing aids. If I’m on the telephone I may miss half of what’s being told to me. When the nurse called me, she told me that Aetna has this Healthy Home Visit Program and that they would like to come to my house, and talk to me, check my medication. I’d much rather have someone come to my house - this way I can hear everything, I can express myself.

We talked about losing weight which is always a problem for me because I like to eat and I’m diabetic. So, she says well you’re what they call insulin resistant and I really didn’t know about the different types of foods that I should eat or should not eat. They taught me how to read the labels it was a real learning experience for me. And I did lose 50 pounds - clothes are a little big now and I’m very pleased with the Healthy Home visits.

I was recommended to walk by the Aetna nurse, but because I had diabetes, I have to take care of my feet. So, I go to a podiatrist, they told me in the office well if you have diabetes then your insurance company will help you get shoes. Because if I go barefoot around the house, I could step on something and not realize it and get an infection. So, I applied for these boots that I like, and Aetna did help me with that.

Part of staying healthy is having a good social life and meeting different people. I find that that type of activity keeps me sharp, it keeps me alert. I have four children and I have three grandchildren. I want to spend as much time with my grandchildren as I can. I want them to remember me as a healthy person. Aetna has helped me with that, and I’m really happy about that.”

{On screen}

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan

To learn more, call the phone number or visit the website shown in the information mailed to you.

{On screen}

Aetna logo

Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area.

GRP_4004_2136a_M 05/2019

72.27.357.1 (5/19)

Man and woman smiling and listening to phone outside

Learn about the parts of Medicare

Transcript: So, you want to know what Medicare is? It might seem confusing but don’t worry, you’re not alone. At Aetna we’re all about helping you figure it out, so let’s get started.

How does Medicare work? Well that’s easy. Here are the basics.

There are four parts to Medicare, starting with Original Medicare, which makes up the first two parts. Part A and Part B.

Part A, is your hospital insurance.

This helps pay for when you stay over in a hospital, need a skilled nursing facility, and hospice care.

Part B? This is your medical insurance.

This covers visits to your doctor, the costs of lab testing, in and out hospital treatment, and some medical equipment … like wheelchairs.

Which brings us to Part D.

This is a prescription drug plan offered by private insurance companies that covers more of the medications you may need, at better prices.

What’s that? Oh … no, we didn't forget Part C.

At Aetna, we think this is pretty important stuff, because it picks up where Original Medicare leaves off.

This is the Medicare Advantage insurance offered by Aetna. You still get all the coverage of basic Medicare A and B, the potential to keep your doctors, and perhaps even more benefits.

Since all plans are a little different, keep an eye out for mailers explaining what extra benefits Aetna may have for you!

Aetna even provides personalized health resources. For instance, our Resources For Living^®program, our 24/7 nurse hotline and personalized health management support.

These programs are a great addition to your doctors and care givers.

They may even increase your emotional, social and physical well-being. These programs are in addition to Original Medicare benefits.

And Aetna Medicare Advantage even helps keep it all simple with one card and one plan to take advantage of all your benefits.

Not only is it easy to make the switch, but you get Aetna’s well-known, helpful customer service. This means a real person located here in the U.S. is available to help you at any time with anything. Some plans even have a dedicated phone line for your specific group.

So, there you have it, the ABD’s and C of Medicare.

GRP_4004_1936_M 12/2018

How to enroll in Medicare

Transcript: Happy Birthday!

This is a special one, because we get to talk about your Medicare benefits and enrollment.

All of you who are joining Medicare can now make some choices, and if you aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place, Aetna is here to help.

You have three months before your 65^th birthday, and three months afterwards, to sign up for Medicare, Parts A and B.

This is required to get Medicare Advantage.

The good news is, you’re automatically enrolled in part A, but you must go online at socialsecurity.gov, or visit your Social Security office to enroll in Part B.

And before we dive right in to learn exactly what Medicare covers, watch our easy to understand and informative Medicare 101 video.

By now, you’ve seen lots of TV commercials and bulk mail, mostly from insurance companies telling you how wonderful their Medicare Advantage plan is and why you should join it… that's pretty much what the enrollment period is all about.

Hopefully you now understand what Original Medicare is… and isn’t, and you may decide you need more insurance.

About one month before your 65^th birthday, a detailed outline for your Aetna Medicare Advantage plan will arrive in the mail.

This plan picks up where Medicare leaves off. You receive everything original Medicare offers, in addition to some great extras.

The Aetna Medicare Advantage plan gives you access to personalized nurse support, wellness programs, and social programs. You can see any doctor that participates with Original Medicare who is willing to treat you, so you'll likely be able to keep the doctors you have now with no interruption in your care needs.

So, there it is, Medicare enrollment in a nut shell. Congratulations on your retirement, and we hope you enjoy your golden years in health.

We now return you back to your regularly scheduled birthday cake and presents.

GRP_4004_1937_M 12/2018

We're here to help!

Call a plan specialist
dedicated to (Insert group name here) retirees
at (Insert primary group phone here) (TTY: 711),
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to
6 p.m., all time zones.
Or call Member Services at
the number on your ID card.

We speak your language: We have free interpreter services to answer questions you may have about our health or drug plan.
Get help from an interpreter

¿Habla español?
Visite nuestro sitio en español

Y0001_4006_10829 Approved 10/27/2017
Page last updated: Mon Aug 17 09:12:26 UTC 2020

View Your Plan

How Medicare Plans Work

Find Doctors & Hospitals

Prescription Drugs

Live Well

Turning 65?

What you need to know about Medicare

New to Medicare

Understanding Medicare and what it covers

Enrolling in Medicare

Getting to know the Medicare Advantage plan

Transcript

Transcript

Transcript

We're here to help!

We speak your language

You are now leaving the Aetna Medicare website.

You are now leaving the Aetna Medicare website.

You are now leaving our Medicare website.

Select your plan to request a directory

What coverage do you have?

Doctors & Hospitals

Coming January 1st

What coverage do you need?

What coverage do you need?