Medicare Advantage Items to Review
Do you have the best Medicare coverage to fit your needs?
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment period (AEP) is the time of year that you can make changes to your Medicare coverage. What exactly should you look at during this enrollment period?
At this time you may sign up for any Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan that is offered in your area. Now is the time to see if your current coverage is serving you well.
The best things to look into are:
- First and foremost, check to see if your plan continues to cover the doctors, hospitals and other providers that you see for medical care.
- Will your plan have a premium and if it does what will it be?
Also look at what your out-of-pocket costs for care will be. Compare deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Be sure to examine if there are limits on the number of visits or treatments for certain services like therapies.
Does your plan include additional benefits for:
- Routine eye exams and glasses
- Routine hearing exams and hearing aids
- Preventive as well as comprehensive dental benefits
Also be sure to check on additional resources such as gym memberships, and wellness programs.
Many plans offer Telemedicine benefits where you can have a virtual office visit over video chat
Prescription Drug Coverage
The way that you can obtain Prescription Drug coverage varies based on how you get your medical coverage.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and you want Part D Rx coverage, you will have to enroll in a plan that covers both medical and drug, also known as an MAPD plan.
If you have a Medicare Supplement plan you can enroll in a stand-alone (PDP) Prescription Drug Part D plan.
First check that your current medication list is covered by your plan. You can also save a considerable amount by switching to generic alternatives, be sure to check with your physician first. The drug store that you use can also have an impact on the price. All of these factors affect the cost you pay to refill each Rx.
Dates to Make Any Changes
October 1st is the date that Medicare Plan information becomes available each year. From this date to October 15th, you can review plan info, but you will not be able to make any changes until the 15th.
The AEP or Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15th to December 7th each year.
During this time, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage and or Prescription Drug plan for the first time. You may also switch from one plan to another.
There is a lot going on over a short period of time, and this process can lead to more questions. Please feel free to contact us or set a time for a meeting.
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) brings up a lot of questions every year.
There always seems to be a former sports star or celebrity pushing an 800 number t call for more information. Most people are hesitant to make the call, because they don’t want to become flooded with phone calls and emails.
After all you just want to find out:
- Which plans are available in the area, Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties?
- Do your doctors and hospitals accept the plan?
- Does the plan cover your medications at a reasonable cost?
- Which extra benefits are included like dental, vision and hearing aids?
- How much does the plan cost?
Here at Giangola Insurance, we have been solving the insurance needs for people in Ashtabula, Ohio since 1955. Our agency has been around longer than Medicare itself.
If these are the types of questions you would like to have answered, then simply complete the form below and I will reach out to you with that information, no cost to you and no obligation.
You can also click on the blue “Schedule an Appointment” bottom below.