Back in mid-October we posted here about the opening of Medicare’s annual enrollment period. If you haven’t given the open-enrollment period any thought, it’s time to do just that, as it closes Dec. 7.
Whether you are happy with your 2016 plan or not, you should take this opportunity to review what you have.
Among the things you should be considering are options regarding traditional Medicare, Part D prescription drug plans and Part C Medicare Advantage plans. If you want to change something for 2017, you must act before the Dec. 7 deadline.
You should be confirming with your Part D and Medicare Advantage providers that nothing has changed about your coverage. If there are changes coming, you may want to see what other options you have. If there are no changes, and you are happy with what you have, you’ve completed your review.
While your provider should have sent you notices of any changes before Sept. 30, it’s worth making contact to confirm whether any changes are anticipated. This Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) should describe any changes in plan coverage, costs or service area.
If you’re uncertain about how to proceed, you can find 2017 plan information at the Medicare website: www.medicare.gov. For specific information about the Part D program, you can go to this link at the Center for Medicare Advocacy website. And to learn more about Medicare Advantage, the Center for Medical Advocacy has a site you can reach using this link.
If you miss the Dec. 7 deadline, and then decide you want to make changes, you can expect a late-enrollment penalty. Any enrollment changes you make during this period go into effect on Jan. 1.