Dear Luis,

I’m glad you asked! The Medicare & You handbook can be very helpful. The Medicare & You handbook is mailed to all Medicare households each September and contains information on Medicare benefits.

Here are some helpful uses for your handbook:

Learn what’s new with Medicare. It’s important to know about updates to your Medicare benefits and coverage. Remember that Medicare Advantage Plans must cover the same benefits that Medicare does; if you see a change in Medicare coverage rules in your Medicare & You book, you should expect to have those same benefits with your Medicare Advantage Plan, although with possibly different costs or restrictions (like requiring prior authorization).

Understand how to enroll. If you are new to Medicare, the Medicare & You handbook can be helpful in explaining how to sign up for the kind of coverage you want. It explains who will be automatically enrolled, and who will need to actively sign up for Parts A and B. The handbook lists instructions for enrolling in Medicare and offers resources to contact for assistance. It also contains information about choosing Part D or Medicare Advantage Plans, as well as Medigap options in your area.

Compare private plans in your area. While there is a general version of the handbook available online, the version mailed to you or sent to you electronically will contain information specific to the area in which you live. It should contain a list of Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D plans, and supplemental Medigap plans available in your area for you to compare.

Learn more about cost assistance programs. There are a variety of programs that help people save money on their Medicare. The Medicare & You handbook contains the eligibility guidelines (which are usually a person’s monthly or yearly income, and sometimes their assets) for these different programs. Use your handbook to see if you may be eligible for Extra Help, the Medicare Savings Program, or a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program.

Learn about your rights. If you are denied coverage for a health service or item that you believe should be covered, your Medicare & You handbook contains helpful information on filing appeals. It additionally provides tips on protecting yourself from Medicare fraud and medical identity theft.

Use as a reference guide throughout the year. It is tough (and likely impossible!) to memorize everything about how Medicare works. Instead, keep your Medicare & You handbook to use as a reference guide as you need care throughout the year. The book contains an index of topics, as well as a dedicated section for finding out if Medicare covers your test, item, or service.

As you can see, the Medicare & You handbook can be helpful to you throughout the year. I highly recommend keeping it handy!

If you don’t receive your Medicare & You handbook by the end of September, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) and request that a copy with information for your area be sent to you. If you would like to receive your handbook electronically, you can log into (or create) your Medicare account to sign up for electronic handbooks. You can also download a general version of the handbook at Medicare.gov.

-Marci