Network Update- Wednesday September 2 2020
My Medicare Matters is an educational website created by the nonprofit National Council on Aging (NCOA). This service is designed to make it easier for people with Medicare (and those turning 65) to make informed and confident choices about their health coverage and to make the most of that coverage.
Visit NCOA’s My Medicare Matters: https://mymedicarematters.org/
For more help with Medicare Issues and to talk to a WACOG SHIP Councilor call:
1-800-782-1886
A Complete Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is from October 15th through December 7th every year. If using the Open Enrollment period to choose a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, that new coverage will begin on January 1.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period Explained
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is an annual period of time (October 15 through December 7) when current Medicare users can choose to re-evaluate part of their Medicare coverage (their Medicare Advantage/Part C and/or Part D plan) and compare it against all the other plans on the market. After re-evaluating, there is a better fit plan, there’s an option to switch, drop or add a Medicare Advantage and/or Part D plan.
The Open Enrollment Period cannot be used to enroll in Part A and/or Part B for the first time. For more information on all of the parts of Medicare, and when you can enroll in them, visit our Medicare coverage map.
To get a better understanding of Open Enrollment try taking the Medicare assessment, which provides free professional advice about Medicare from a licensed advisor who meets The National Council on Aging’s Standards of Excellence. Learn more about the National Council on Aging’s Standards of Excellence.
During the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) the following can occur:
· Anyone who has (or is signing up for) Medicare Parts A or B can join or drop a Part D prescription drug plan.
· Anyone with Original Medicare (Parts A & B) can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.
· Anyone with Medicare Advantage can drop it and switch back to just Original Medicare (Parts A & B).
· Anyone with Medicare Advantage can switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan.
· Anyone with a Part D prescription drug plan can switch to a new Part D prescription drug plan.
Re-evaluating Medicare Coverage During Open Enrollment
Each year, insurance companies can make changes to Medicare plans that can impact how out-of-pocket costs— monthly premiums, deductibles, drug costs, and provider or pharmacy “networks.” A network is a list of doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies that negotiate prices with insurance companies. They can also make changes to plan’s “formulary” (list of covered drugs). Given these yearly changes, it is a good idea to re-evaluate your current Medicare plan each year to make sure it still meets needs. Below are some additional benefits of re-evaluating coverage during Open Enrollment:
1. Switching to better prescription drug coverage can reduce out-of-pocket costs and ensure drug plans still cover needed prescriptions.
2. Save money and keep your doctor in-network by switching Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Research shows that the average consumer can save $300 or more annually if they review their Part D coverage
3. Find a higher quality plan. Plans with a 5-star rating are considered high quality. If you are enrolled in a plan that is less than 3, consider using Open Enrollment to switch.
Next Steps: Comparing Medicare Coverage
To re-evaluate and/or switch current Medicare coverage use one of the options below:
1. Take our Questionnaire and get free professional counseling by a licensed benefits advisor from one of our trusted partners that meet NCOA’s Standards of Excellence.
2.
3. Contact a WACOG SHIP Counselor for federally funded Medicare counseling from a trained staff member or volunteer at:
1-800-782-1886
4.
Once a plan is chosen that fits your needs, you will need to inform your physician and other health care providers of the new coverage.
MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College and Phoenix Truck Driving School have partnered up to bring the opportunity of obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License to Mohave County.
Residents of the tri-state region who are interested in getting paid to drive local routes, long hauls or traveling across the country can sign up for the course that can be completed in as little as four-weeks.
MCC and Phoenix Truck Driving School held a ribbon cutting at the Kingman campus Tuesday. Representatives from both institutions were present, along with representatives from DOT Foods.
“MCC greatly values our new partnership with Phoenix Truck Driving School. Doug Prall and his talented team from Phoenix Truck Driving School support our efforts to find new ways to train individuals in a high demand field. This partnership focuses on improving the lives of individuals and providing an economic impact for our communities we serve,” said Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, MCC President.
Phoenix Truck Driving School, also known as Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, has provided students with CDL training for more than a decade. The school offers a combination of classroom/online, range and on-the-road training. There is job placement assistance so students can have job opportunities before they graduate.
“Over 50 years ago my father started Driver Dispatch Corporation which evolved into DSW Trucking and multiple CDL training schools. Over the last 30 plus years I’ve seen the continued need for drivers with an even bigger need happening this past year during the pandemic. We are excited to partner with Mohave Community College to offer CDL training that can get students on the road and into a thriving industry,” said Doug Prall, President and Owner of HDS Inc.
Students will spend 40 hours doing online classroom learning and the rest of the time learning range skills or in the truck. MCC Neal-Kingman campus will welcome Jeff Sroka as the on-site manager and lead instructor.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a need for 100,000 professional truck drivers in the U.S. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.
“A program like this is vitally important not only to our company but the way we do things. There’s a national shortage of truck drivers and this is an entry point for folks who aren’t in truck driving to get into it,” said Chris Wisslead, DOT Foods Director of Transportation. “It’s a lucrative career and it serves a lot of people, businesses and industry.”
Truck driving is a career where the opportunities are endless. Drivers can work locally, regionally or nationally and can drive various types of commercial vehicles.
HDS Inc. is a family owned and operated company with five truck driving schools and the largest over-the-road trucking company in Tucson, AZ, DSW.
For more information, call (888) 481-2840 or visit, KingmanCDL.com.
VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT
From: Todd Baldwin <toddbaldwin@azdes.gov>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 2:28 PM
Subject: Fwd: [veterans] Job Opportunities with the Mayo Clinic Job Opportunities with the Mayo Clinic (scroll down for further information, links, and how to apply)
Mayo Clinic is now part of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care Network *AND* Mayo has 1300+ current job openings in #arizona, #minnesota, #wisconsin, #florida, #iowa, with many immediate needs to fill‼️
Todd R. Baldwin
Veterans Workforce Specialist
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Workforce Development Administration
Office: (928) 854-0351 | (928) 216-8111
2031 Spawr Circle
Lake Havasu City, Arizona 86403
Phone: (928) 854-0351 Fax: 928-680-7849
1032 Hopi Avenue
Parker, Arizona 85344
Phone: (928) 216-8111
NOTICE: This e-mail (and any attachments) may contain PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific individual(s) to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential under state and federal law. This information may be used or disclosed only in accordance with law, and you may be subject to penalties under law for improper use or further disclosure of the information in this e-mail and its attachments. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the person named above by reply e-mail, and then delete the original e-mail. Thank you.
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Leopoldo Verdugo <lverdugo@azdes.gov>
Date: Wed, Aug 5, 2020 at 1:28 PM
Subject: Fwd: [veterans] Job Opportunities with the Mayo Clinic
To
Good Afternoon All,
Information from the Mayo Clinic, they’ve partnered up with the VA.
Thanks Xavier for sharing.
R/S,
Leo
Leopoldo Verdugo
Veterans Coordinator
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Workforce Development Administration (WDA)
Office: (520) 638-2413 | Mobile: (480) 651-4903
