By Rebecca Barnes, Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) Coordinator, Beaver County Office on Aging
Medicare Open Enrollment is quickly approaching, and all beneficiaries are encouraged to review their plan benefits. Even if you are happy with your current plan, it is important to review any changes for the coming year to ensure that the plan still fits your budget and needs. Here are some things to remember about Open Enrollment:
- Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7.
- Coverage for your new plan begins on January 1.
- During Open Enrollment you can:
- Join or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
- Join or switch to another Medicare Part D Drug Plan if you’re in Original Medicare
- Things to consider when reviewing plans:
- Do the plan costs (premium, deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurances) fit your budget?
- Are your medications on the plan’s formulary?
- Is your preferred pharmacy in network with the plan?
- If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, are your doctors in the plan’s network?
- If you don’t make plan changes during Open Enrollment, you will automatically be renewed for the same plan for the following year.
- If your current plan is discontinued, you should receive a non-renewal notice and you will need to select a new plan for the upcoming year.
- If you have a Medigap plan Open Enrollment does not impact your plan, unless you choose to disenroll and switch to a Medicare Advantage plan; however, you can still explore other Part D plans for your drug coverage.
- Medicare.gov allows you to find and review Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your area. You can create a Medicare.gov account to have a more personalized plan search
- PA MEDI can help by:
- Providing free, unbiased counseling on Medicare Advantage and Part D plan options
- Assisting with plan enrollments
- Screening to determine eligibility for pro- grams that can reduce out-of-pocket costs
- Addressing billing concerns and appeals
Appointments are held at our office in Beaver Falls, our three senior centers (Center at the Mall, and Circle of Friends New Brighton and Conway), and by phone or video. Call (724) 847-2262, option 2 to schedule an appointment.
We also are holding a Medicare 101 Lunch and Learn Program at the Center at the Mall (Beaver Valley Mall, Unit 284, Monaca, PA 15061) on September 29 from noon to 1 p.m. Call the Beaver County Office on Aging to register.