Open Enrollment is Here!

I know that you have been getting bombarded with emails,television ads, and mail telling you to change your enrollment to a new moneysaving Medicare plan. While I’m not here to sell you insurance I am here to encourageyou to review your Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans and your Medicare PartD plans. It quite possibly could save you money and give you easier access tocritical medicines and procedures.

This is the time where you can review and make changes to existingplans. Medicare and Part D Open Enrollment started onOctober 15^th and lasts until December 7^th. There is also aseparate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period which lasts fromJanuary 1^st through March 31^st every year.You can alter Medicare Advantage plans during both periods.

As a quick refresher - Medicare Advantage plans are offeredby a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide all your Part Aand Part B benefits. Medicare Part D plans provide coverage for prescription drugsbut unlike Parts A and B you are not automatically enrolled and must opt into aPart D plan.

For those turning 65, now is a great time to take a close look atyour options and select a Medicare plan that matches your needs based on themedications you take and the coverage offered. If you’re already a Medicarebeneficiary and have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, this time of year isstill important to take a look at how your care needs have changed and makesure your plans still work best for you.

It's especially important to review your plans if you have hadsome changes, like some new health issues, retirement, added some prescriptionmedicines or were able to go off some medicines you had been taking. Anotherchange that could impact the type and cost of your insurance is if you moved.

I just moved to a different state and I’ve started the process ofreviewing all aspects of my health insurance to make sure myself and my wifehave the right coverage at the right price.

There are a number of tools and resources available. We have some of those resources under are Medicare tab at the top of the page. We also have information on our sister website Medicare Today to help you find information on Medicare, your eligibility and how to enroll. There is also a very helpful and newly upgraded plan finder tool that can help you find plans based on where you live. To access this easy-to-use plan finder click here. You can also use this graphic that contains helpful tips for reviewing plans during the open enrollment period.

For seniors, taking these little steps to review and renew planswill make all the difference to your health. We all know time flies when youare having fun, so take a quick look at your coverage during the next few daysand ensure your plans are fitting your future health needs.