Medicare Minute – Fall Open Enrollment

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October 5, 2018

Please review the information below from the Medicare Rights Center.  We hope you find this information helpful during Fall open enrollment.

Medicare Minute Script – September 2018 

Fall Open Enrollment

Fall Open Enrollment is the time of year when you can make changes to your Medicare coverage. Fall Open Enrollment runs from

October 15 through December 7, and any changes you make will take effect on January 1, 2019.

Point 1: Know the changes you can make during Fall Open Enrollment.

During Fall Open Enrollment, you can make changes to your health insurance coverage, including adding, dropping, or changing how you receive your Medicare benefits. You can make as many changes as you want during this period, but only your last coverage choice will take effect in January. The changes you can make include joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D prescription drug plan, switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, and switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.

Before making a decision about your 2019 coverage, consider the Medicare health and drug plan options in your area. You may be able to receive better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should check to see if there is another plan in your area that offers health and/or drug coverage at a better price.

Point 2: Review your current Medicare health and drug coverage

You receive a lot of mail during Fall Open Enrollment, so it is important to know which mailings include information about your current coverage. Regardless of how you receive your Medicare coverage, you should consider your access to health care providers and pharmacies you want to use, your access to benefits and services you need, and the total costs for insurance premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts.

If you have Original Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or read the 2019 Medicare & You handbook to learn about Original Medicare benefits for 2019.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC). These notices list any changes for your plan in 2019. Pay special attention to any changes in a) the plan’s costs, b) the plan’s benefits and coverage rules, and c) the plan’s formulary (list of drugs your plan covers). Make sure that your drugs will still be covered next year and that your providers and pharmacies are still in the plan’s network. If you are unhappy with any of your plan’s changes, you can change plans. If you want assistance reviewing your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for unbiased counseling. To contact your SHIP, visit www.shiptacenter.org or call 877-839-2675.

Point 3: Know about enrollment period changes that will take effect in 2019

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, beginning in 2019, you will be able to change your coverage between January 1 and March 31. During this time, you can switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another, or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare, with or without a Part D prescription drug plan. If you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you will not be able to make changes during this time. If you have Extra Help, beginning in 2019, you will no longer be able to change plans once per month. Instead, if you have Extra Help, you will have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in or switch Part D plans once per quarter in the first three quarters of the year (January through March, April through June, and July through September). It is important to be aware of these enrollment period changes, but note that you should make any necessary changes to your Medicare coverage by December 7, 2018 in order for the changes to take effect January 1, 2019. If, in 2019, you need to change your Medicare coverage, you may have the opportunity to make changes if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or have Extra Help.

Take action:

  1. Review any notices you receive from Medicare or your plan. Decide if you want to change your coverage. Contact your SHIP for assistance reviewing your choices and understanding enrollment options.
  2. Explore possible options for health and drug plans. Costs change each year, and you may find a less expensive plan that works for you.

 © 2018 Medicare Rights Center    Helpline: 800-333-4144     www.medicareinteractive.org

As always, we thank you for your support and cooperation. For questions or comments, please email us at Compliance@NSGACommunications.com or you may call the toll-free number listed below.

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