A leading non-profit organization that advocates for Medicare beneficiaries has cautioned against relying completely on the 2020 “Medicare & You handbook, prepared by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and send to all Medicare beneficiaries as part of the 2020 enrollment process. According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted the Medicare & You 2020 handbook on their website. The Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) reviewed the new handbook with an eye toward assessing the balance of information provided about traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage (MA), and the accuracy of information regarding coverage. Although the handbook has been improved from the draft to the final edition, but there is still room for improvement. And, based on recent history, as evidenced by the targeted email campaign and other efforts , it is no longer a given that CMS will issue neutral, unbiased information about beneficiaries’ traditional Medicare and MA options. The final 2020 Medicare & You handbook is improved from the draft, but beneficiaries and advocates should remain vigilant regarding such information as the Open Enrollment season rolls out.