Medicare Ombudsman

Medicare Topics

Medicare - General  

Help with Costs 

Medicare Supplements / Medigaps

Medicare Advantage Plans / Health Plans

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Insurance

 Long Term Care 

 Consumer Advocacy / Public Policy Resources

Local Resources

How We Can Help You With Medicare

The Medicare Ombudsman’s office will provide you with objective information, in English or Spanish, on Medicare benefits, HMOs, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Part D plans, and beneficiaries' rights. Help is provided for clarifying plan choices, filing appeals for denials of coverage, answering questions, and a variety of other services. Written information is also available on a wide variety of Medicare issues.

The Medicare Ombudsman is available for phone consultations or one-on-one appointments. We also provide educational presentations to groups of any size on a variety of Medicare related topics. For questions or to set up a consultation call us at: 303-441-1546 or 303-678-6113 (en Espanol)

"New To Medicare" Classes - Click here for more information

New!

Families USA Consumer's Guide to Coping with Medical Bills (pdf)

_____________________________________________________

Medicare - General
 

1. Medicare Premiums and Deductibles for 2010 (pdf)
2. The Big Picture (from Colorado Division of Insurance)(pdf)
3. My Medicare Preventive Benefits Checklist (pdf)
4. mymedicare.gov - for access to your Medicare claims information, go to website and sign up for a password
5. www.medicare.gov/caregivers - link to resources for caregivers including navigating Medicare, billing, care options, financial assistance and other relevant topics.
6. www.copera.org/pdf/2/2-104-09.pdf - for PERA retirees; link to 2009 PERA Care Health Benefits Medicare Coverage booklet
7. www.opm.gov/insure/health/medicare/index.asp - for federal retirees; link to Medicare and FEHB information

Help with Costs
 

1. www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/ - online application; SSA Extra Help on-line information to determine if you can get help with costs of having a Medicare Part D drug plan
2. www.benefitscheckup.org - see what programs you may be eligible for
3. Consumer Guide to Coping with Medical Debt (pdf) - from Families USA
4. Colorado Guide to Finding Health Insurance (pdf) - A guide for people who may not qualify for Medicare and are trying to find a source of health insurance

Medicare Supplements / Medigaps
 

1. Medigap Options for Colorado Consumers (from Colorado Division of Insurance)(pdf)

2. www.covercolorado.org -look for supplemental insurance for people with disabilities unable to get a private supplement

Medicare Advantage Plans / Health Plans
 

1. Steps in Choosing Medicare Advantage Plans: 2010 (pdf)
2. How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans Using www.medicare.gov (pdf)
3. Medicare Advantage Consumer Toolkit (pdf)
4. Kaiser Family Foundation Report: Quality Ratings for Medicare Advantage Plans  (pdf)

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Insurance
 

1. Medicare Drug Insurance and You - Colorado Options 2010 (from Colorado Division of Insurance) (pdf)

2. Medicare Prescription Drug Search Manual (pdf)
   A manual to help you use the www.medicare.gov website to get prescription plan comparisons

 

Long Term Care
 

1. Long-Term Care Planning: Colorado Options (pdf)
2. Colorado Long Term Care Partnership policies that provide fro asset preservation, visit www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=HCPF-ColoradoLTCPartnership/CLTCPLayout&cid=1198227699631&pagename=CLTCPWrapper

Consumer Advocacy / Public Policy Resources
 

1. Recent Legislative Changes Affecting Medicare Advantage (pdf)
2. www.Medicarerights.org
3. www.MedicareAdvocacy.org
4. www.kff.org/medicare/index.cfm - Kaiser Family Foundation
5. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2009 and Key Changes Since 2006: Summary of Findings (pdf)
    
6. Broker Compensation Figures for Enrolling Consumers in Medicare Advantage Plans, provided by CMS
7. Kaiser Family Foundation Report: Quality Ratings for Medicare Advantage Plans  (pdf)

Local Resources
 

1. Primary Care Providers in Boulder County who are accepting Medicare Patients (as of 9/08) (pdf)
2. Medicare Participating Physicians and Suppliers 2009 Directory, provided by Colorado's Medicare Contractor, Trailblazer
3. www.bouldercountyhelp.org (Network of Care) - Boulder County Services and Resources
   www.bouldercountyayuda.org (Spanish)
4. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2009 and Key Changes Since 2006: Summary of Findings (pdf)
5. www.bouldercounty.org/hhs/financialbenefits.htm
6. www.bouldercounty.org/hhs/healthbenefits.htm