We’re about at the midpoint of the Medicare Open Enrollment period which started Oct. 15 and runs until Dec. 7. If you are eligible for Medicare, and you have not acted yet, the time to take action is now. This is the annual period when you can make adjustments to your Medicare health and drug plans.
You should not assume that your providers are offering you the same plans as last year. Medicare health and drug plan providers can and often do make changes each year – things like cost, coverage and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks.
You should have received in the mail prior to the start of the open-enrollment period several documents including the “Evidence of Coverage” (EOC) and “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC). If your existing plan’s coverage changes, you should verify that the new terms meet your needs. If you’re happy with your current plan and believe it will meet your needs for next year, you don’t need to do anything, although you may want to compare your current plan to other options.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has made it simpler than ever to review your options. Simply go to https://www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to learn more.