Medicare Enrollment Period Approaching

Medicare open enrollment begins on Thursday and there are things to consider if someone is looking to change plans.

Swallows Insurance Account Executive Cassandra Newman said this is important for people considering a change with their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Part D plan. Newman said being aware of your current doctors and prescriptions are essential to choosing coverage.

“Make sure that the plan has the providers in the network that they need because most of the Medicare Advantage Plans are either an HMO or PPO plan,” Newman said. “A Preferred Provider Organization Plan, which is a list of providers in a network.”

Newman said one of the most important things to consider is the monthly premium cost, especially for people on a fixed income. Newman said making sure your plan lines up with your medical needs is an important part of planning.

“Look at what coverage and benefits they are going to get to make sure that the plan is going to cover those needs that they have,” Newman said. “Physician appointments or hospital stays or tests that they might have done.”

Newman said during this time of year the amount of information being put out on Medicare can be overwhelming.

“From October the 15th to December the 7th is for a Medicare Advantage Plan, which is different from the supplemental plans and for Part D Prescription,” Newman said. “What I recommend to folks, and this is what I do with my clients, is to sit down and go through the outline, line by line.”

Newman said there are things Medicare typically does not cover, like elective and cosmetic procedures. However, there are things that can be reviewed if they are questionable.

“Sometimes things that could be questionable that it’s for medical necessity can be reviewed by the physician, the provider, the patient and the insurance company,” Newman said. “To see if those could be covered in Medicare.”

Open Enrollment for Medicare will run from October 15 to December 7. Newman said sitting down with a professional can be a resource for making sure someone understands what they are purchasing.