The BPL can help you with Medicare Open Enrollment today

Find out the best Medicare plans for you with the BPL.

By Jim Murray | Librarian Ⅱ, Central Library

Medicare Open Enrollment is happening now, and the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) has a new resource to help you plan for your coverage needs.

The fall season means changing weather and the time for Medicare Open Enrollment.

Open enrollment began October 15, 2021, and will end December 7, 2021. During this time, existing Medicare recipients can change their coverage to meet their healthcare and financial needs for 2022.

Available Medicare coverage options are plentiful and differ in the coverage they provide and their costs.

Furthermore, the coverage and costs can change from year to year. To choose the best Medicare plan for oneself, people need access to accurate, thorough, and up-to-date information.

Medicare Supplement Insurance is one of the many options available to Medicare recipients.

Created by a series of 1980s federal legislation, Medicare Supplement Insurance (also known as Medigap) is designed to help cover costs—or fill the gaps—not covered by Original Medicare.

Currently, Original Medicare only covers about 80% of the recipients’ healthcare costs. The remaining 20%—which mostly consists of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance—must be paid by the individual recipient.

Recipients can choose to meet these remaining costs by purchasing a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy from a private insurance company. Both federal and state provisions regulate the Medicare Supplement Insurance market.

There are currently 10 different Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available for purchase, each designated by a letter A through N. These plans are standardized in terms of their coverage no matter which insurance company you choose.

However, the premium prices charged and the number of plans companies offer are not standardized. So, people can shop around for the best price and best coverage that suits their needs.

And the BPL is here to help you find the best Medicare Supplement Insurance plans.

One of the BPL's new subscription research databases, the Weiss Financial Ratings Guide, includes a Medicare Supplement Insurance Planner amongst its many other resources. 

By accessing the database on the BPL website, library patrons can simply input their name, age, gender, and zip code to get a customized report generated within a matter of seconds.

The 60+ page report contains the following:

• Detailed explanation of your healthcare services that are covered by Medicare Parts A and B
• Explanation of how Medicare Supplement Insurance can augment your Medicare coverage
• A list of government agencies and private organizations to contact for more information
• Listings of:
• all insurance companies licensed to sell Medicare Supplement plans in your area
• which plans they sell
• monthly and annual premium prices charged for each plan
• a letter grade rating of each company’s financial standing and ability to meet customer needs

You can view the Weiss Financial Ratings Series on the internet at any BPL location or remotely through the BPL’s database page.

To access it remotely, select Weiss Ratings Guide from the dropdown menu labeled “Database Quick Links.” Remote users will need to have a valid JCLC library card and be a City of Birmingham resident. 

For more information about the Medicare Supplement Insurance Planner, the Weiss Financial Ratings Guide, and other BPL resources and services related to Medicare, please contact the Central Library’s Business, Science and Technology Department by:

• emailing cenbusiness@cobpl.org
• calling 205-226-3640