Trusted Expertise to Guide Professionals through the Mazes of Medicare and Medicaid
For years, Avisery has been a trusted partner to professionals who work with older adults and adults with disabilities, providing free expert guidance on eligibility, enrollment, coverage, and costs of Medicare, Medicaid, and other health benefits programs in Illinois.
You can email questions and support requests to avisery@ageoptions.org or call us at 708-628-3440 .
Avisery’s “Ask the Expert” service aims to support and facilitate the work of professionals to ensure that Illinois’ older adults and adults with disabilities can access affordable health coverage. From the birth of the “Make Medicare Work” Coalition after the introduction of Medicare Part D in 2006 to navigating today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape, our Avisery specialists have consistently delivered solutions to the most challenging issues, ensuring you are equipped to help your clients access the affordable health coverage they need. Avisery’s commitment to supporting professionals has never wavered.
Through our free “Ask the Expert” service, Avisery specialists provide professionals with essential information or guide them through action plans to address problems accessing coverage. When barriers persist despite all efforts, they employ advanced problem-solving strategies, leveraging relationships with public agencies, advocacy groups, constituent services personnel, and other stakeholders.
Who can submit an “Ask the Expert” request?
Any Illinois professional who serves older adults or adults with disabilities in Illinois can consult with an Avisery training specialist on topics related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health benefits programs.
How can I contact Avisery’s “Ask the Expert” service?
Avisery specialists can be reached via email by sending a request to aviersy@ageoptions.org or by calling 708-628-3440. We ask only that you do not send client identifying information by email unless you can use a secure email service or redact sensitive information. An Avisery specialist will respond usually within 48 business hours.
What topics can Avisery specialists help with?
The requests Avisery receives run the gamut from simple information-seeking (e.g., “Do employees turning 65 need to enroll in a Part D plan?”) to complex situations involving consumers falling through the cracks between multiple public agencies at both the state and federal level.
Example “Ask the Expert” Cases
Can my client regain lost Medicare Savings Program benefits?
Avisery received a request call from an out-of-state Medicare counselor serving an Illinois dual eligible client who had experienced an abrupt cancelation of her Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Medicare Savings Program (MSP) benefits without warning or notification. This led to an arrearage of Part B premiums leaving the client at risk of losing her Medicare.
Avisery’s Response: Avisery collaborated with multiple professionals from the Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) office, Catholic Charities Northwest, Legal Aid Chicago (LAC), and the Social Security Administration for more than eight months to resolve this case. Ultimately, the client’s QMB coverage was reinstated and she was also successfully enrolled into AABD Medicaid.
Can an adult with a disability and with income above 100% of poverty retain Medicaid coverage once they become Medicare-eligible?
Avisery received a call from a professional assisting a disabled beneficiary who had lost coverage due to the more strict income requirements for AABD Medicaid compared to ACA Medicaid (their prior coverage). The professional wondered if Avisery knew of any ways this beneficiary could re-enroll in Medicaid.
Avisery’s Response: Avisery discussed the case in further detail and learned that this beneficiary had a part- time job, making them eligible for the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) Medicaid program. HBWD Medicaid is a small Medicaid program that is available to working adults with disabilities aged 16-64. The HBWD Medicaid program has the highest income and asset eligibility requirements of all the Illinois Medicaid programs. Since this beneficiary could qualify for this Medicaid program, as long as they kept working, Avisery recommended completing a new Medicaid application for the HBWD program.
Can you help me understand this confusing Spenddown notice?
A caseworker contacted Avisery about a Spenddown notice where it was unclear if the spenddown was met or not.
Avisery’s Response: The Avisery specialist walked the professional through where to look for information in Manage My Case (MMC), Medicaid’s portal. The caseworker saw one notice saying the client’s spenddown had been met, and another notice a week later saying the client was terminated from Spenddown. Avisery suggested that the professional email both notices to the administrator of the client’s local Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) office for clarification. The Avisery specialist also offered the professional various strategies for effectively communicating with the FCRC.
Remember: You can email “Ask the Expert” for Professionals at avisery@ageoptions.org or call us at 708-628-3440 .