It’s Medicare Open Enrollment Period: Are You Ready?

Now that it’s Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) you can switch your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan. Also known as open enrollment, it happens every year from October 15 to December 7, for a plan taking effect January 1.

During Medicare Open Enrollment 2018 you cannot do the following:

• Join Part B, unless you have a qualifying event (Call us to learn more)
• Switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap without answering medical questions

This is an a great opportunity to review your plans because a drug covered by your plan one year, may not be covered at the same price, or worse yet, nor covered at all.  Your Medicare Advantage plan can change their network of doctors and facilities, change the way they cover a medical service, and/or drop additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing. This is the time to review your plans in case you need to make a change

Additionally, some people use open enrollment to leave Medicare Advantage and sign up for Medicare Supplement and a different Prescription Part D drug plan for the first time. Contact us and we can show you how this is done.

Next Steps
Before and during Medicare’s Open Enrollment period you’ll want to research your current health plan’s changes and compare it to other health plans in your area to decide which is best for you. If you decide your current plan meets your needs you don’t need to do anything. If you are not happy with your plan or just want to compare what else is available to you, then give us a call.