Healthfirst Helps Make It Easier for People to Understand and Enroll in Medicare Advantage Plans

Healthfirst will host more than 75 Medicare Advantage seminars throughout October in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester

Healthfirst opens dedicated Medicare centers to make enrollment easy and convenient

Healthfirst, one of the largest individual Medicare Advantage HMO plans in the New York metro areaⁱ, is helping to make it easier for those over 65 years old, and for people under 65 with disabilities, to better understand the basics of Medicare Advantage plans with educational seminars; a robust, information-filled website; and new dedicated Medicare centers. There are 1.1 million adults over the age of 65 in New York Cityⁱⁱ who are eligible for Medicare, yet more than half the number of seniors nationally don’t understand Medicare plan choicesⁱⁱⁱ.

“Medicare can be very confusing and even overwhelming for some to make decisions about what is right for them, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Jen Cohen-Smith, Senior Vice President, Medicare, Healthfirst. “Medicare Advantage plans have changed over the years, and many now offer more benefits such as an over-the-counter allowance, dental benefits, vision benefits, hearing aids, prescription drug coverage, and fitness benefits, in addition to hospital coverage and preventive care. People need to consider their lifestyle as well as their health when making the choice about which plan to enroll in.”

Healthfirst is ready to help people find the right plan to fit their needs during the Annual Enrollment Period and is offering more options to connect in person or from the comfort and safety of home.

In addition to Healthfirst’s 23 community offices throughout the region, the company has opened three new pop-up locations dedicated to answering community members’ questions about Medicare Advantage plans, to check their eligibility, and to assist them in enrollment. The new Medicare centers are conveniently located at:

• Inwood
  
  530 W. 207th Street, Manhattan
  
  
• Brownsville
  
  1606 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn
  
  
• Morris Heights
  
  25 E. Fordham Road, Bronx

Tips for Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan

Healthfirst will offer more than 75 in-person seminars, scheduled in October, to help seniors and their caregivers navigate their options.

Information that people will learn at a Healthfirst Medicare Advantage seminar includes:

• How to assess their health needs to match plan/offerings
• Which benefits and plans best fit their lifestyle and budget
• What to consider when evaluating an OTC card benefit
• What non-traditional benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation, and prescription drug home delivery, are offered

Healthfirst’s dedicated Medicare Advantage website offers a series of videos to help people understand the basics of Medicare; includes a free downloadable guide to review Medicare options; and provides advice on how to choose the plan that suits their health needs, lifestyle, and budget.

People can call 1-877-741-6486 or visit HFMedicarePlanInfo.org to learn more and sign up for a free Medicare education seminar.

More Ways to Connect with Healthfirst—We’re Here When You Need Us

Healthfirst is ready to help people find the right plan to fit their needs during the Annual Enrollment Period—which begins on October 15 and runs through December 7—and offers a variety of ways to connect, including in person and from the convenience and comfort of home. For shoppers and caregivers who prefer a virtual shopping and enrollment experience, Healthfirst.org offers online enrollment.

About Healthfirst

Healthfirst is the largest not-for-profit health insurer in New York State^*, earning the trust of 1.7 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. Sponsored by downstate New York’s leading hospital systems, Healthfirst’s unique advantage is rooted in its mission to put members first by partnering closely with its broad network of providers on shared goals. Healthfirst is also a pioneer of the value-based care model, now recognized as a national best practice. For nearly 30 years, Healthfirst has worked with its network of hospital systems, community providers, and partners to improve health outcomes through better access to care—especially in underserved communities adversely impacted by disease, health disparities, and socioeconomic barriers to optimal health. Healthfirst has built its reputation in the community for top-quality products and services New Yorkers can depend on. It offers market-leading products to fit every life stage, including Medicaid plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Long-Term Care plans, Qualified Health plans, Essential Plans, and individual and small group plans. Healthfirst serves members in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, and Orange counties. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org.

ⁱBased on August 2021 CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment data; excludes EGHP and ISNP. Healthfirst has the largest Medicare Advantage membership in the NY metropolitan area, including New York City, Nassau, Westchester, and the Lower Hudson Valley.

ⁱⁱhttps://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/episrv/2019-older-adult-health.pdf

ⁱⁱⁱhttps://www.modernhealthcare.com/medicare/senior-confusion-about-medicare-advantage-creating-headaches-patients-providers?

^*Based on revenue reported for calendar year 2020.

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