Medicare and Me: How Technology Helped My Grandma Find a Better Plan

Lily was a successful software engineer who had worked for a company that specialized in healthcare technology before she came to live in Montana.   She had access to a lot of information and resources that could help Elisa find a better Medicare Advantage plan. She also had technology like a laptop and a smartphone that she could use to show her grandmother how to compare different plans and enroll online. Lily said, “Grandma, I know you’ve been struggling with your health care costs and coverage. I’m here to help you find a plan that fits your care needs and budget. There are many options out there, and I can show you how to find them and compare them. You don’t have to settle for a plan that doesn’t work for you. You deserve better.”

Elisa was touched by Lily’s kindness and generosity. She felt hopeful and curious. She said, “Lily, thank you so much for coming. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ve been feeling so lost and alone. I don’t know anything about these plans or how to use these gadgets. Can you help me navigate this complex landscape of options?

Lily smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Grandma. It’s not as hard as it seems. I’ll teach you everything you need to know. It’s actually pretty fun and easy. You just need to answer a few questions, and then you can see all the plans that are available in your area. You can compare them by price, benefits, network, ratings, and more. You can also see what other people think about them and read reviews. And when you find a plan that you like, you can enroll online with just a few clicks. It’s fast and secure. And you can do it all from home.”

Elisa was amazed and impressed. She said, “Wow, that sounds incredible. How do you do that?”

Lily said, “It’s all thanks to technology, Grandma. Technology is a wonderful thing. It can make our lives easier and better. It can connect us with people and information that we need. It can empower us to make informed decisions and take control of our health. Technology is not something to be afraid of, Grandma. It’s something to embrace and enjoy. Let me show you how.”

Lily opened her laptop and turned it on. She connected it to her smartphone, which had a wireless hotspot. She opened a web browser and typed in a website address. She said, “This website allows you to compare Medicare Advantage plans. All you need to do is enter your zip code, your Medicare number, and some basic information about your health and preferences. Then you can see all the plans that are available in your area. You can sort them by different criteria, such as monthly premium, annual deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, drug coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, hearing coverage, fitness coverage, and more. You can even read customer reviews and testimonials from other people who have used the plan.”

Elisa was stunned and speechless. She said, “Lily, this is amazing. I can’t believe this is possible. How did you find this website? How do you know it’s reliable and trustworthy?”

Lily said, “Grandma, I worked for this company.  I helped create this website. This was my job, Grandma. This is what I do. I use technology to help people find and access health care. This is my passion, and why I became a software engineer. To make a difference in the world. To make people’s lives better and to make you proud.”

Elisa was moved to tears. She said, “Lily, you are amazing. You are brilliant. You are wonderful. You are making a difference in the world and are making people’s lives better. You are making my life better and are making me so proud.”

Lily hugged Elisa and said, “Thank you, Grandma. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for being my inspiration. Thank you for being my hero.”

They smiled and wiped their tears. They looked at the laptop screen and saw a list of Medicare Advantage plans and decided to explore them together and find the best one for Elisa. Lily and Elisa spent the next few hours browsing, comparing, and chatting. They had fun and learned a lot from one another.  They found a plan that fit Elisa’s needs and budget. They enrolled online and celebrated. They were both so happy and relieved and felt their bond become closer and stronger.