Mahopac, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham hosted a Medicare Seminar recently in partnership with the nonprofit the Medicare Rights Center at the Mahopac Library to assist Putnam residents with accessing their benefits.

“There have been significant changes to Medicare recently and changes in coverage by private insurance companies,” said Harckham. “This seminar was designed to help community members navigate these changes and make sure they can continue to access the care they need at an affordable cost. Thank you to the Medicare Rights Center for helping older adults understand their options and access the care they deserve.” 

Residents from Putnam and Northern Westchester attended the seminar, where Medicare Rights Center President Frederic Riccardi explained the difference between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plan, what the lettered parts mean (Part A – Inpatient/hospital coverage, Part B – Outpatient/medical coverage, Part C – Medicare Advantage and Part D – Prescription drug assistance), and answered questions from the audience about their specific issues. 

“It was a pleasure to join Senator Harckham and the Mahopac community today to help people better understand their Medicare coverage, benefits, and rights,” said Riccardi. “With Medicare Open Enrollment beginning October 15, it’s more important than ever for people to review their options and learn about programs that can help lower their health care and prescription drug costs. We’re grateful to Senator Harckham for his partnership and commitment to making sure New Yorkers have the information and support they need to get the most out of Medicare.”

Putnam County has approximately 21,500 Medicare beneficiaries, with about 1,400 residents becoming eligible for Medicare each year. For many older adults and those approaching retirement, navigating the healthcare system and understanding the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage can be challenging.

Changes to the Medicare Advantage market have added to that uncertainty. A study released earlier this year found that approximately 3 million Medicare Advantage enrollees were required to find new coverage due to changes to their plans.

Locally, Fidelis Care, Cigna / HealthSpring, Ambetter, and Aetna altered network terms or dropped coverage with providers Northwell Health and Optum.

Harckham and the Medicare Rights Center partnered on the seminar to provide residents with the information and resources they need to navigate these changes and make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage.