How to Prepare for the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Oct 15 – Dec 7

In this video, we’ll go through what you need to do to be prepared for the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7.

And we’ll get that done in under 5 minutes.

Confused about your Medicare coverage options? Watch our free video: How to Find the Best Medicare Coverage Without Paying More Than You Need To…

Note: The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7 applies to Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans. Not Medicare Supplements, also known as Medigap plans. You can change your Medicare Supplement any time during the year, but you will likely have to answer health questions to be approved for a new policy. That’s true even during the Medicare AEP.

The advertising this time of year for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans is non-stop. Do you need to watch all the tv commercials, read all the mailers, and listen to every sales pitch?

No.

You can safely ignore, recycle, and tune out all the noise.

The advertisements let you know what the latest bells and whistles are on some plans, but they don’t tell you which plan is the best one for you.

The best plan is the one that covers all your medications, has all of your medical providers in network, and will provide you access to the healthcare you need for the new year at the lowest overall cost.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Look at your Annual Notice of Change. If you are in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan, you will have received an Annual Notice of Change that tells you what plan changes are coming for the new year. Check to see if any changes will affect you.
   
2. Make a list of your prescriptions. Accuracy is important. List the drug name, dosage, and frequency for all medications.
   
3. Make a list of your preferred pharmacies.
   
4. Make a list of your doctors and other medical providers.
   
5. Talk to your doctor’s office. Ask if your doctor will still be accepting Medicare patients in the new year. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, or are considering a Medicare Advantage plan for the new year, ask your doctor which plans are accepted at his or her office.
   
6. Know your deadline. No changes can be made after Dec 7. Enrollments can be accepted for the new year’s plans as early as October 15. Technical glitches and delays do happen, so I recommend making a decision and getting any enrollment completed before December 1, if possible.

That’s really all you need to do.

Once you have your lists and other necessary information, it’s time to look at all available plans in your zip code. You can do that on your own, but it can get time-consuming and complicated.

A licensed, experienced Medicare plan broker will assist you with the comparison shopping at no cost to you. Whether you purchase through a broker or directly with an insurance company, the plan cost will be the same, so why not take the free help from someone who is trained in this field and does this for clients every day?

If you want to know more detailed information about the Annual Enrollment Period, including what plan changes you can make during the AEP, and what changes you can’t make, here is a video that explains what options are available in more detail.

If you’d like assistance sorting through your options for the new year during the Medicare AEP, please feel free to give our office a call at 877-312-1414 or schedule a free, no obligation Medicare Plan Consultation.  We’re here to help you have a stress-free AEP and make sure you are in the best Medicare plan for you!