4 Things to Consider When Comparing Medicare Plans

4 Things to Consider When Comparing Medicare Plans

Comparing Medicare health and prescription drug plans can be complicated. Keep in mind these 4 things to make your plan choice easier with the Medicare Plan Finder.

  1. Total cost for care. It’s important to think about your total out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, maximums, and drug costs, that you’ll pay with a Medicare health or drug plan. When you compare plans with Medicare Plan Finder, we’ll explain these costs and help you find plans with the lowest costs. We’ll also automatically show you plans with the lowest drug and premium costs first.
  2. Provider choice. Some plan types have a network of providers you’ll have to use if you want to pay less. Medicare Plan Finder lets you filter your results by plan type, and explains how each plan type lets you choose providers. If you have a particular doctor or pharmacy that you prefer to go to, see if that plan has a network. If it does, check that your provider is in the plan’s network. You might also want to make sure that your plan’s network has providers to choose from that are convenient to you.
  3. Benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug, vision, hearing, and dental coverage. Maybe you travel a lot, or spend part of the year in a different state. If you do, see if your plan will cover you when you travel. When you use Medicare Plan Finder, you can view, filter, and compare these benefits.
  4. “Overall Star Rating.” Medicare Plan Finder features a star rating system for Medicare health and drug plans. The “Overall Star Rating” gives an overall rating of the plan’s quality and performance for the types of services each plan offers. A plan can get a rating between 1 and 5 stars. A 5-star rating is considered excellent. If a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare drug plan or Medicare Cost Plan with a 5-star rating is available in your area, you can use the 5-star Special Enrollment Period (once a year) to switch from your current Medicare plan to a Medicare plan with the 5-star rating.

Visit the Medicare Plan Finder to start comparing 2021 Medicare health and drug plans now.

Originally posted on Medicare.gov

Virtual Holiday Parties

Virtual Holiday Parties

Building camaraderie between your employees is essential for employee engagement and retention. In fact, employees with close work friendships report 50% higher satisfaction with their work, according to Gallup. Hosting parties for your office this season may not be possible, yet they are still important. We’ve gathered some fun alternative ways to celebrate together while apart this holiday season.

IT’S PARTY TIME!

Gingerbread House Building Contest

  • Mail a box of the components to your team ahead of the party date.
  • Host a video call with background music while everyone constructs their house so they can see the progress of their co-workers’ build.
  • Post pictures of the finished houses on your company Facebook page and take votes for different categories. Your team can share the page with friends and family to try to drum up votes and, in turn, your page will get some new visits! Win-Win!
  • Send gift cards to winners to online merchants.

Virtual Holiday Bingo

  • Mail bingo cards and dobbers or stickers ahead of the party date.
  • Host a video call and ask your most outgoing and beloved team member to be the bingo caller.
  • Email e-card prizes to winners.

Winter Cocktail Party

  • Mail a “mix-kit” of cocktail components to your team ahead of the party date.
  • Hire a mixologist to teach via video call how to make a couple of cocktails with the ingredients you have sent out ahead of time.
  • *Optional: take votes on a short menu of cocktails to see which ones the team is most interested in learning how to make.

Virtual White Elephant Party

  • Some people consider a “white elephant” gift to be something chosen from their home that is still in good/new condition, a cheap purchased gift, or a joke gift. Make sure you determine what type you want people to give so that everyone prepares the same.
  • Have your team prepare their gift at their home ahead of time and take a picture of their item. Each person should email the pre-designated “Santa” the picture so he/she can prepare the game.
  • Prepare a PowerPoint presentation with images of gifts and follow the instructions on this site to host the party.

General Tips

  • Mail “party supplies” two weeks early.
  • Make a party playlist and share it before the party to get people in the holiday party mood.
  • Consider mailing party food such as flavored popcorn, chips, candy, and even a meal-delivery gift card for eating during the virtual event.

Even though we are apart this holiday season, there is no need for us to be disconnected. You can still be the “host/ess with the most/est” by preparing the best party for your team. Show them you care by spending the extra time and care to keep your team engaged during the holidays.