A Few Tips to Help Navigate Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period

The Medicare Open Enrollment period (OEP) started on October 15 and goes until December 7, 2018.  During this annual enrollment period (AEP), seniors already enrolled in Medicare can make changes to various aspects of their coverage. 

As it can be overwhelming for many elderly adults to navigate through the process, adult children often take on the task to ensure their parent is getting the best plan for their needs.  Now is the time to re-evaluate your or your parents’ Medicare Advantage and /or Part D plans against other plans on the market.  If a plan better fits your needs, “you can switch to, drop or add a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Medicare Advantage is also known as a “Part C” plan.”

To help with the confusion, the not-for-profit agency ACM Care (Autonomous Case Management, Inc.) explains that the National Council on Aging (NCOA) advises using the “four C’s” when reviewing your current plan’s effectiveness: cost, coverage, convenience, and customer service.  Bear in mind that many insurance companies make adjustments to Medicare plans from year to year so changing from one plan to another may help save out-of-pocket expenses on monthly premiums, deductibles, and drug costs. Insurance companies also may make changes to their list of covered drugs as well as to the networks they work with so you will want to check that your preferred healthcare providers, drugs and hospitals are still part of your insurer’s plan. 

Please keep in mind, Open Enrollment is not the place to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B for the first time.  Anyone who did not sign up for Medicare A and B when they first became eligible will be able to do so starting January 1 to March 31 (you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty). If you need help figuring it all out, the NCOA offers a short Medicare Questionnaire assessment tool. 

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies.  Please schedule a visit to one of the most trusted Colorado Springs assisted living facilities. 

Source: mymedicarematters.org/enrollment/medicare-open-enrollment/

acmcare.org/preparing-medicare-open-enrollment-5-top-tips-illinois-missouri-caregivers/