Medicare 101 Presentation Explains Enrollment and Plan Options at Parkview-Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary Meeting

Pharmacist Aaron Dunlap briefed the Parkview-Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary on Medicare options during their general meeting on Monday, Nov. 9th, at the hospital conference room.

The presentation arrived squarely inside the annual open enrollment window, which runs from October 15th through December 7th. During this stretch, eligible seniors can lock in coverage changes for original Medicare, Medicare and Medicaid, or Medicare Advantage plans.

Dunlap, who owns Rings Pharmacy in Montpelier and Klinger Pharmacy in West Unity, walked attendees through the moving parts of federal health insurance. Original Medicare spans Part A inpatient coverage—handling care in skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice—alongside Part B outpatient insurance tied to cost-of-living adjustments.

Private insurers handle Medicare Advantage Part C plans, covering 80% with patients footing the remaining 20% out of pocket. These plans fold in Part D prescription drug coverage, which features a maximum out-of-pocket annual cap of $2,400 for 2027.

While Advantage plans often carry zero monthly premiums, they rely on co-pays that vary depending on whether a patient sees an in-network or out-of-network provider. They can also bundle extra perks like dental, vision, hearing care, and allowances for over-the-counter drugs.

Seniors looking to plug the gaps left by traditional coverage can turn to Medigap policies, which carry monthly premiums scaled to the insured person’s age. For those wishing to change course entirely, a special enrollment period opens from January through March.

Following the presentation, Auxiliary President Lynn Watson led the business meeting. Members traded Thanksgiving traditions during roll call and reviewed plans for upcoming community events, including the annual “Lighting the Way to Christmas” memorial program scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 6th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Montpelier.