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Medicare Information Available During Open Enrollment Period

Question: My wife got her information about her Medicare Advantage plan. The monthly premium looks to be the same. I don’t think she should change plans. How would we know which plan to choose for 2020?

Answer: During the Annual Open Enrollment Period, everyone with Medicare gets a lot of information about the products that are offered. Too much information can be overwhelming with too much information. Without losing a plan, this year two new plans are offered.

I always recommend that you research the alternatives available and decide which plan works for you. Try to find out more about your plan to be sure it is still valuable, useful and beneficial for you. Some of the plans didn’t change that much. When comparing your current plan with other products you will learn more about insurance. You may find something better, or you may decide you have a good deal after all.

Be cautious in reviewing the alternatives. I often hear that people switch to a plan that a friend or family member recommended. Everyone makes insurance choices for different reasons. Be sure their reasons for liking that product make sense for you.

The Annual Open Enrollment Period when you can make changes to your plans is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7, 2019. During this time you can switch your insurance product and your new plan will begin Jan. 1, 2020. Cattaraugus County has plans offered by Aetna, Fidelis, and MVP. Some Medicare Advantage Plans include drug coverage and some do not. It is important to consider more than just the price. For more information a list can be viewed at medicare.gov, and is for Chautauqua County.

To obtain a list for your area/county, use the Medicare.gov website tool, “Find Health & Drug Plans.” It is important to understand each county has different plans available. These plans are listed by plan name, not any preference to level of service or type of plan. The list can be confusing though because it lists plans for the whole state.The abbreviations mean: PFFS – Private Fee For Service, HMO- Health Maintenance Organization, HMO-POS – Health Maintenance Organization with a Point of Service Benefit, PPO- Preferred Provider Organization. As you review these plans, there are two new plans.

There are 31 plans available and 23 of them provide drug coverage. There are two new Medicare Advantage Plans offered by Independent Health (one HMO, and one PPO).

There are many more factors to look into. You need to think about benefits, co-pays, who participates in the plan and how well it covers medications. You can only purchase a plan available in your county.

You could be a little overwhelmed, looking at plans, but there are ways to help. Agencies and programs that are available locally to help you find new insurance. There is Office For the Aging (661-8940 or 753-4471) staff available to help with insurance questions throughout the year. Southwestern Independent Living Center 661-3010 also has staff available to help with insurance issues. The insurance companies themselves and local brokers are also available to help you make your decisions. Remember that an insurance agent or broker can only talk about the products they offer and sell. It’s a lot like buying a car.

So, this is a lot like buying a car. If you go to Dealer A, salespersons can’t necessarily tell you about Dealer B’s inventory. A Dealership A salesperson can always find a product from the lot that is perfect for you. That does not mean you should drive a car from Dealer A. Be sure to research your options before you sign.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan now and decide not to change during this time, you also have other opportunities. The newest enrollment period we have is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period which runs from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year. This Open Enrollment Period is available to people who have a Medicare Advantage Plan on Jan. 1, 2020 and want to make switch their plan to anything else. An example is if you switch your Medicare Advantage Plan on Jan. 14, 2020, your new insurance coverage would begin Feb. 1, 2020.

If you change your plan during February, it begins March 1, 2020. If you change your plan any day in March it begins April 1, 2020.

To contact Janell Sluga, GCMC with questions or concerns, please call 720-9797 or e-mail janells@lutheran-jamestown.org.

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