Medicare beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to review and adjust their health and prescription drug coverage during the annual Open Enrollment period, a decision that can significantly affect out-of-pocket costs and access to care. Plans change every year, and so do individuals' health needs, making an annual check-up of coverage essential.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommends that enrollees check four key areas: whether preferred doctors, prescriptions and pharmacies are covered; premiums, deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket costs; changes to the plan for the coming year; and how plans compare side by side based on the prescriptions taken. Using medicare.gov, beneficiaries can compare plan costs and coverage, as illustrated by one person who saved more than $1,600 by selecting the lowest-cost drug plan that kept their medications covered.
Medicare.gov is the official source for Open Enrollment, allowing users to explore and compare every available Medicare health and drug plan in their area. For personalized assistance, beneficiaries can call 1-800-MEDICARE, where experts are available 24/7 to help review options and answer questions. To begin, individuals can visit Medicare.gov and click “Find Plans Now.” Creating or logging into a Medicare account enhances the comparison experience by allowing users to see plan costs side by side based on their specific medications.
Missing the Dec. 7 deadline could mean waiting a full year before making any changes to coverage, so starting early is crucial. Beneficiaries should consider costs, benefits and prescription drug plans to ensure their health plan supports their wellness journey.
During Open Enrollment, scammers may pose as Medicare representatives to steal personal information. Medicare will never contact individuals unsolicited, and beneficiaries should hang up or delete messages from unknown callers, texts or emails. Suspected fraud should be reported immediately to Medicare.gov/fraud or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Never share a Medicare Number, Social Security Number or financial information with anyone you don't know.
The information is provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, with photos courtesy of Shutterstock.
