What Happens in January, February and March if I’m on Medicare?
Written by Bonnie Dobbs, Senior Health Benefits Consultant
Happy New Year!
Now let’s get down to business.
Have you received your new Medicare insurance cards for 2024? Have you seen your doctor or used your benefits? Please look at your welcome packet or go to your insurance plan’s website and start today!
What is OEP?
It’s good news for those who are on Medicare Advantage plans! The Open Enrollment Period is for those on Advantage plans only. Medicare Advantage plan enrollees have a one-time opportunity from January 1 to March 31 to switch plans.
During Annual Enrollment, which is October 15 to December 7 each year, you had the option to compare your current plan with the plans that were offered for the following year. If you chose an Advantage plan you can take it for a “test drive”, which gives you the opportunity to make sure you made the correct decision. Maybe your Advantage plan is not meeting your current needs, or you’ve decided you made a poor choice. Maybe you decided to join a plan just because your friend told you, and now you realize that plan may have been good for them but it’s not good for you. The good news is you can change it during the OEP which is now.
Your options are changing from one Medicare Advantage to another Medicare Advantage or dropping your Medicare Advantage and getting a Part D prescription drug plan. It is important if you decide to drop your Advantage plan and get a drug plan that you can medically qualify for a Medicare Supplement. Otherwise, you will only have original Medicare, which leaves you owing the Part A deductible, Part B deductible and the 20% Medicare doesn’t cover. You must get a Medicare Supplement to help fill in those gaps. I always stress the importance of using a Medicare insurance broker. A broker can compare all plans available in your service area. If you’re not using a broker, you’re missing out on an opportunity to find the most comprehensive plan with the least out-of-pocket cost based on your needs.
Bonnie Dobbs is a highly sought-after author, panelist and speaker on Medicare, teaching thousands online, in print and in person! The Owner and Founder of Insurance and Other Red Tape, Bonnie is a broker contracted with multiple insurance carriers and has a team of agents licensed in Georgia and many other states. www.insuranceandotherredtape.com (770) 373-7541
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Elderly Care Services in Smyrna GA please get in touch with the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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