Who Is NCMES?
NCMES is a health benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. Our program provides free, confidential, unbiased and factual information and assistance to beneficiaries and their caregivers about Medicare, Medicaid, and related health insurance issues including long-term care insurance, final expense insurance, prescription drug assistance programs and dental, vision and hearing plans. NCMES counselors provide individual one-on-one counseling, community education, and outreach.
Our mission is to educate, advocate, counsel and empower people to make informed benefit decisions.
- NCMES is nonbiased.
- NCMES services are free.
- NCMES counselors help people with Medicare:
- Understand their choices
- Enroll in a Medicare plan that meets their needs
- Compare and enroll in ancillary plans
- Review Medicare Summary Notice(s) and Explanation of Benefits
- Sort through medical bills and assist in filing Medicare claims and appeals
- Apply for financial assistance programs to reduce Medicare out-of-pocket expenses
You can contact NCMES today to request one-on-one counseling, partnership opportunities, and information about rewarding volunteer opportunities.
We are a Registered 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- We Provide Free Medicare Education
We can help with Medicare, Medicaid, Long Term Care, Final Expense, Part D RX, Dental, Vision, Hearing and more!
As we are not sponsored by any insurance companies, our counselors can provide you with unbiased opinions based on your particular situation.
- Our Services Are 100% Free of Charge
Medicare is not one size fits all. When you enroll in Medicare and pick your ancillary plan options it is extremely important to know what you’re doing as the wrong enrollment decision could be a life long decision. There are many complexities and oddities to Medicare and NCMES helps you navigate them.
Medicare Advantage and drug plans can change each year in regard to cost, coverage and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks. October 15th to December 7th is when all people with Medicare can change their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs. Regardless of the type of ancillary coverage you choose, you need to speak with a counselor or broker annually during this time to make sure you’re still in the best spot for the following year.
* The $0 Part A premium is for those who have worked 40 quarters while contributing to Medicare payroll taxes.
*Part B premiums increase based on individual income above $85,000 or joint income above $170,000.
*Some Part D RX plans waive your annual deductible.
*Average Part D Premium is from a 2017 CMS estimation.