City Desk
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By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact - Supported by/Underwritten
Big Sky Connection - The open enrollment period to sign up for Medicare, or make changes to supplemental and drug plans runs until Dec. 7. In 2025, Medicare recipients will have their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000 a year, which is a change from current policy. In Montana, to buy insurance through the federal marketplace, the enrollment period starts this Friday (Nov. 1) and runs through Jan. 15, 2025. Comments from Montana Deputy Insurance Commissioner Frank Cote (COE-tay); and Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer UnitedHealthcare, employer and individual.
Click on the image above for the audio. Montana's open enrollment period to purchase insurance on the federal marketplace runs from this Friday, Nov. 1, to Jan. 15, 2025. (Adobe Stock)Montana's open enrollment period to purchase insurance on the federal marketplace runs from this Friday, Nov. 1, to Jan. 15, 2025. (Adobe Stock)
Mark Moran
October 28, 2024 - People have the opportunity to enroll in Medicare, or change their supplemental coverage, between now and December 7.
In Montana, insurance experts remind people to check their options when enrolling in standard health-care plans, too.
Montana Medicare recipients will have a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs.
Montana's open enrollment period to sign up for coverage on the federal marketplace runs from this Friday to January 15 of next year.
Deputy Insurance Commissioner Frank Cote said for people shopping for plans, it's important to understand which providers are in different health-care networks.
"Are they a broad network that encompasses most of the physicians and hospitals across the state?" said Cote. "Or are they a narrow network that, for instance, only covers one hospital in Billings, or one hospital in Missoula?"
There is a video tutorial on how to enroll on the State of Montana website.
Chief Medical Officer UnitedHealthcare - Employer and Individual - Dr. Rhonda Randall added that beyond understanding which providers are in network, it's also important to check existing insurance plans - because the benefits can change from year to year.
"Are your current benefit plans still meeting your healthcare needs and your budget needs, and has anything changed with your plan?" said Randall. "For example, is your doctor still in the plan? Is the medication you take still covered by the plan?"
Randall and other providers reminded people to look for mental health coverage options in their insurance plan, too.
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PNS - Monday, October 28, 2024 - Former First Lady Michelle Obama campaigns about losing reproductive freedom in a second Trump presidency. Sen. Lindsey Graham pushes back on John Kelly's "fascist" description of Trump, and advocates call for nonpartisan support for national parks.
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PNS - Monday, October 28, 2024 - Israel retaliates against Iran; Americans oppose mass deportations; an online event aims to break myths about immigration; bail reform doesn't have the impacts some believe; insurance claims post-Helene and Milton are being denied at high rates; members of a teacher's union are unhappy at the pace of negotiations; and early voting yields high returns.
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ButteNews
October 25, 2024
A man standing on the track south of Melrose was hit by a train this morning. authorities reported.
He made no effort to move out of the way of the oncoming locomotive.
The crew sounded an alarm and applied the train’s brakes, but were unable to stop in time, Sheriff Ed Lester said in an email.
As the train drew near, the man seemed aware of it, but remained standing on the track, the report said..
The initial 911 call said that a car may have been hit by a train on the south end of Melrose in Butte-Silver Bow, but upon arrival, first responders discovered that the northbound Union Pacific locomotive had struck a man.
The call came in shortly after 10 am. Butte Fire Rescue, A-1 Ambulance, the Montana Highway Patrol, the Beaverhead County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and Life Flight all responded to the call.
The man was 58. His name is being withheld until his family can be notified.
