Ganesh Temple, Flushing, hosts Medicare seminar for seniors  

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The Hindu Temple Society of North America and Sri Mahavallabh Ganapati Sthanam, or the Ganesh Temple as it is popularly known, organized an educational seminar ‘Understanding Medicare’ at its Saraswati Hall Sunday, July 28, 2024. The information was presented by a Medicare Authorized Agent, Ann Pitambar, who explained the different components of Medicare, their advantages, eligibility criteria and enrollment process. Pitambar also answered questions from the more than a hundred people who attended and had several questions.

“We had an interested and responsive audience. The turnover was great,” said Ravi Vaidyanath Shivacharya, the Director of Religious Affairs, to Desi Talk. According to him, it was one of their most successful seminars.

One of the most important parts of the seminar was educating people about what Medicare is and what Medicaid is and what both cover. Pitambar explained that Medicare is a federal program and Medicaid is a city program. She also explained that Medicare covers only 80 percent of the medical costs. Each individual is responsible for the remaining 20 percent of the expenses. A person has to get a Medicare supplement plan to cover the 20 percent of the costs and to pay for all other costs which Medicare does not cover.

Shivacharya explained why such a seminar was needed for seniors who already may be on Medicare. “Many seniors have Medicare but someone else has got it for them, doing the applications. They do not know what the different parts are – Part A, Part B, Part C & D – and what they cover and how much they cost,” Shivacharya said.

They don’t know that Medicare doesn’t cover expenses totally. Also coverage varies according to states. So if someone travels to another state from New York, they will need to get a Medicare supplement plan. The agent also told the audience about how they can get vision and dental benefits by just paying $20 or $30 extra, said Shivacharya.

Shivacharya said that many people in the audience had questions about Medicare coverage while traveling. “Many from the audience said they go to either India or to Canada to get treatment and wanted to know if Medicare covers them in another country,” he said.

The seminar was informal and personalized in that Pitambar tried to answer all questions. Other healthcare providers who offer Medicare plans were not present at the seminar. The entire seminar was conducted by Pitambar who is appointed as an authorized agent by Medicare. Authorized agents can guide people and help them fill out their applications, avoiding mistakes, and getting the right plans, especially if they are not getting Straight Medicare but applying for HMO or PPO Medicare plans. “The audience had a lot of questions about those”, Shivacharya said.

Pitambar also informed people how they can qualify for extra benefits in New York City including NYC Medicaid. Medicaid in NYC picks up the cost of the Medicare Part B premium, and also the 20% of medical expenses which Medicare does not cover, she said. And once a person qualifies for Medicaid in New York City, they get many additional benefits for seniors from the city.

Pitambar further explained that in NYC, if a person qualifies for Medicaid which has an income limit, it will cover free of cost all that a supplemental plan would cover after paying a premium. Pitambar also talked about how to best use both benefits and not overdraw.