Top Health and Aging Organizations Kick Off National Medicare Education Week with Free Events and Resources to Help Simplify Medicare Enrollment

To help simplify the process of learning about Medicare, Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers are invited to attend free Medicare events and online webinars during National Medicare Education Week, Sept. 15-21, 2019.

The annual education initiative, now in its eighth year, starts one month before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7). National Medicare Education Week helps educate new enrollees and empower them to feel confident when it comes time to select their Medicare options. A survey of last year’s participants showed that 96% of respondents reported a better understanding of Medicare as a result of participating in National Medicare Education Week events.

National Medicare Education Week is supported by AARP, Caregiver Action Network, Fitbit, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), UnitedHealthcare and Walgreens, in addition to health care providers, senior centers and other local organizations.

The need for clear information on Medicare is great, and growing as more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day¹. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 80 million Americans will be eligible for Medicare².

Medicare Education Events Taking Place Coast-To-Coast

At local National Medicare Education Week events hosted by UnitedHealthcare, guests can:

• Attend an educational presentation providing an overview of Medicare and get answers to frequently asked questions.
• Participate in blood pressure checks and “Ask A Pharmacist” booths hosted by Walgreens, and exercise Fitbreaks led by Fitbit at select events.

UnitedHealthcare will host nine events in the following markets. For more information on these events and to RSVP, visit NMEW.com or call 1-855-322-1154 (TTY 711).

UnitedHealthcare will also provide Medicare education resources at various community events and wellness expos throughout September.

Online Medicare Education Resources

People who wish to learn more about Medicare from the comfort of their home can access online resources including:

• Three informational webinars hosted by UnitedHealthcare (Sept. 17, 18 and 19) will cover Medicare basics and answer frequently asked questions about aging into Medicare while working, Part D prescription drug coverage, and comparing and reviewing Medicare plan types. Participants can preregister online at NMEW.com.
• Visit MedicareMadeClear.com for educational articles, videos and guides. This site is also available in Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese to help more people learn in their preferred language.

“Through National Medicare Education Week, we hope to help Medicare beneficiaries feel confident and empowered when it comes time to select the health care coverage that best fits their specific needs,” said Tim Noel, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “At UnitedHealthcare, we strive to make the health system work better for everyone, including making Medicare simpler to understand.”

National Medicare Education Week is part of UnitedHealthcare’s ongoing educational platform Medicare Made Clear®. 

For more information about National Medicare Education Week, visit NMEW.com.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.