Skip Navigation
News - AT Messenger
DATI Logo

Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

. . . bringing technology to you

AT Messenger Logo - Bringing Technology to You

Vol. 3, No. 2, March/April 1995

Previous Issues

Subscribe to AT Messenger
Download PDF Viewer
PDF Version (for printing)
Text Version

New Law Affects Disabled Medicare Beneficiaries

Release from ELDERinfo

A new federal law has been enacted which amends the Social Security Act. This law makes several changes to the federal requirements for Medicare supplement insurance.

Effective January 1, 1995, disabled Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible for the 6-month open enrollment period for Medicare supplement insurance upon their 65th birthday. Prior to this new law, these persons were not eligible for the 6-month open enrollment period that recipients of regular Social Security benefits enjoyed unless they enrolled in Medicare Part B on or after their 65th birthday.

During the open enrollment period, a person can purchase the Medicare supplement policy of his or her choice and the insurance company cannot turn them down or charge them more.

Additionally, all disabled Medicare beneficiaries who turned 65 between November 5, 1991 and January 1, 1995 and who were not eligible for the 6-month open enrollment because they were enrolled in Medicare Part B prior to reaching age 65, are given a one-time, 6-month, open enrollment period beginning January 1, 1995. This one-time federal open enrollment period applies to any Medicare beneficiary who had Part B coverage prior to age 65 and turned 65 between November 5, 1991 and January 1, 1995.

Delaware Medicare beneficiaries with questions about this new law or Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare supplement insurance, long-term care insurance or other health insurance should call ELDERinfo at (800)336-9500 to schedule an appointment with a volunteer health insurance counselor at one of thirty-seven counseling sites statewide. ELDERinfo is sponsored as a public service by the Delaware Insurance Department and the DHSS Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
When you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst, you must not quit.

-author unknown

Current Issue