Are You Ready For Medicare Open Enrollment?
When Medicare Open Enrollment rolls around, it is time to consider your health and prescription plans for next year. According to the US Center for Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare Open Enrollment is from November 15th to December 31 this year. Even if you are content with your current Medicare health and prescription benefits, you want to make sure that the plan will be very similar next year. Because plans do change, and the period after Medicare Open Enrollment is when those changes will show up.
How To Prepare For Medicare Open Enrollment
The Medicare websites gives some great tips to evaluate your current Medicare health and prescription plans, and they are pretty simple.
- Gather Information About Your Health Needs. This includes your current prescription list, your medical providers, and any notices you have received from Medicare, Social Security, and any private health or prescription insurance companies about changes to your plan.
- Compare plans in your local area for cost, coverage, and customer service. You can do research by using the Medicare website, contacting a local insurance agent who is a specialist on various Medicare Health and Prescription Plans, and also by asking people you know and trust about their experiences.
- Decide if you would like to keep your current coverage or make a change.
If you decide to consult an insurance agent, look for a Medicare specialist who is appointed and certified with multiple area plans. If you find an agent who only represents one company they may be less motivated to give you a balanced view. Of course, you may end up purchasing from one company, but it would be best to do your shopping with a consultant who is not motivated to only push one plan.
Understand the differences between Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplements. This subject still causes confusion. And no, there is no one right answer for everybody. Some people feel as if Medicare Advantage plans are only for seniors with moderate to low incomes, but some individuals with very high incomes are very satisfied with Medicare Advantage. On the other hand, some people, especially those who do not live where a doctor network is convenient, may be happier with a very flexible plan like some Medicare Supplements, even though they cost more. Of course, on still another hand, some Medicare Advantage plans will work with any doctor who accepts the plan, so they can be very flexible too!
I do not mean to be confusing here, but I do mean to illustrate that the variety of Medicare Health and Prescription plan choices makes choice complex. If you have questions, do not hesitate to consult Medicare or a private Medicare Specialist. An insurance agent who specializes in Medicare health plans should not charge you anything. They earn a living with commissions from the various companies when they do sell a plan. If you can find an agent who is appointed and certified with all, or most, of the local plans, they will not be motivated by that commission to select one plan over another. They should be motivated to find the best plan for you, and keep you as a valuable client!
Get More Information on Local Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage Plans in your local area. Help yourself or your loved ones find Senior Health and Prescription Plans here.
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