Medicare’s open enrollment; October 15 – December 7
Fall has arrived, and it is that time of year when you can change your current Medicare plan and coverage. Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) begins October 15 and runs through December 7. During this annual occurrence, Medicare beneficiaries are able to join a new Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) or stand-alone prescription drug plan, called Part D, and switch between original Medicare with or without a Part D plan and MAP.
The tools and resources available make the process quite simple. First, review the annual notice of changes from your MAP and prescription drug plan. This notice will outline changes that will be taking place with your plan for the new year.
“It is important to review your current plan each year to make sure that your plan still fits your needs,” said independent licensed agent Betsy Mullison. “This is especially important with regard to prescription drug coverage. Each plan covers prescriptions on a formulary, and that formulary can change from year to year.”
The AEP checklist is a simple and effective tool that gives Medicare beneficiaries step-by-step guidelines to follow during the process. Get started by reviewing changes in your current coverage plan. It is a good idea to get quotes on prescription drugs and evaluate your healthcare needs before making any changes to your current plan.
Any changes made during AEP will take effect on January 1 of the following year. If no changes are needed, let your plan roll over to the next year. To shop for 2023 plans, visit medicare.gov or reach out to a local certified broker for assistance.
By Julie Matuszewski
