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Tips on Choosing a Medicare Plan
Are you new to Medicare? here are some things to remember when choosing a Medicare Plan to make your enrollment seamless.
Learn the Difference Between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Understand what is Original Medicare and how it is different from the Medicare Advantage plan. This will help you make a more informed decision and ensure that you enroll in a plan that suits your current health needs.
Know and understand what Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D are
Learn what the Medicare Parts are and if you need to have coverage on all parts. Knowing what you need will help you save more money.
| Medicare Part | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Part A | Hospitalization |
| Part B | Medical Insurance |
| Part D | Prescription Drugs |
| Part C | Medicare Advantage |
Create a list of your healthcare needs
List all your current medications or prescription drugs, the doctors or specialists you go to, and all your other healthcare needs. This will ensure that the plan you will select covers your healthcare needs.
Remember the enrollment dates
Take note of the dates when you are eligible for enrollment, can sign up, or can change plans.
Here are the enrollment dates to remember:
- Initial Enrollment Period:
- 3 months before or after you turn 65 or during the month when you turn 65
- If you are 65 but have a disability (once you get your disability benefits from Social Security or RRB)
- Open Enrollment happens from October 15 to December 7 every year
- During this period you can:
- Join a plan
- Switch plans
- Drop a plan
- Your new coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year
- During this period you can:
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment happens from January 1 to March 31 each year
- If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare once during this time. Any changes will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request.
- Special Enrollment Period allows qualified individuals to sign up for Part A or B during this period
Find out how other insurances work with Medicare
If you have other insurances, understand how they work together with Medicare. This will give you more cost savings when it comes to choosing a plan.
Do you need more help in choosing a Medicare Plan?
There are several ways to learn more about Medicare and help you choose the best plan for your needs. You can visit Medicare.gov or download the latest Medicare and You Guide to learn more about Medicare.
If you want to speak with an agent, you can contact me so I can help you choose the best plan for your needs.
