Once a person turns age 65, Medicare is the health insurance of choice for a vast number of Americans. Each year after enrolling, Medicare provides an open enrollment period that allows enrollees to make changes to the plans they chose previously. The open enrollment period begins on October 15, 2018 and runs through December 7, 2018. Any changes made during the enrollment period will take effect on January 1, 2019. Types of changes that can be made during this time include:
- If you’re covered under traditional Medicare this year, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan for next year.
- If you’re covered under a Medicare Advantage plan this year, you can change to a different Medicare Advantage plan, (that is, by a different provider or a different program) or you can move back to traditional Medicare coverage.
- You can also make changes to your prescription drug coverage, either by choosing a Medicare Advantage plan that incorporates prescription drug benefits or by selecting a separately offered Part D prescription drug plan You can also drop your existing drug coverage or add new coverage.
Like everything else these days it seems, choosing a plan can be very confusing. In addition to budgetary considerations, determining the right plan may be contingent on what prescriptions one requires and the doctors you are accustomed to using.
This article is written by an attorney at Wyatt & Mirabella, PC. Always consult an attorney before making any legal decisions. To make an appointment today for a free consultation, please click here to contact us.