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Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar; 283 workers nationwide, including 83 in CO, killed on the job; IL health officials work to combat vaccine hesitancy, stop measles spread; New research shows effects of nitrates on IA's most vulnerable.

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The Pentagon begins removing transgender troops as legal battles continue. Congress works to fix a SNAP job-training penalty. Advocates raise concerns over immigrant data searches, and U.S. officials report progress in trade talks with China.

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Volunteers with AmeriCorps are reeling from near elimination of the 30-year-old program, Head Start has dodged demise but funding cuts are likely, moms are the most vulnerable when extreme weather hits, and in California, bullfrogs await their 15-minutes of fame.

Medicare changes could save Hawaiians big bucks during open enrollment

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Thursday, October 24, 2024   

For Hawaiians on Medicare, opening the mail is the first step in successfully navigating 2025 health-care coverage. It's open enrollment season, and many of those eligible delay responding because the necessary paperwork can feel daunting. But experts say successfully navigating the process can save people a lot of money.

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer with UnitedHealthcare, employer and individual, recommends folks review of their current situation before making changes for next year.

"So, you want to consider, are your current benefit plans still meeting your health-care needs and your budget needs? Is your doctor still in the plan? Is the medication you take still covered by the plan?" she said.

Hawaii is often considered the most affordable state for health care, with only 3.6% percent of the total state being uninsured due to Medicare, employer mandates and state-sponsored insurance programs. At the same time, the state has a high cost of living, so new caps on the cost of prescription drugs and out-of-pocket expenses should help.

People can look online at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare.

The 2023 Lahaina fire on the island of Maui underscored the kind of events that can suddenly affect health care and budget needs. Nearly half of residents there reported a decline in health and said accessing medical care and medications became a challenge. That's why Randall says it's important to know a new plan's fixed costs.

"Pay attention to more than just that monthly premium - that's the amount that's coming out of your paycheck once a month if you're getting your coverage through an employer-sponsored plan, or coming out of Social Security," she addd. "You also want to look at deductibles; what is your out-of-pocket responsibility going to be?"

In 2023, about 21% of Hawaii's population was enrolled in Medicare. Randall also encouraged people to ask about mental-health benefits, as many plans now offer zero copays for telehealth visits with a counselor.

She recommended websites such as 'JustPlainClear.com' which can lay out the differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans before the Dec. 7 open enrollment deadline.

People with employer-sponsored coverage typically select a plan during a two-to-three week period between September and December. And open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans runs from November 1 to January 15 in most states. More information is available at www.UHCOpenEnrollment.com.

Disclosure: UnitedHealthcare contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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