Questions to Ask During Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare open enrollment will last from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. During that period, you can review your coverage options and make necessary changes if you are eligible.

This can include switching from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, switching back to Original Medicare from a private plan or adding on a Part D prescription drug plan, among other things.

Even if you don’t believe you have any issues with your current coverage, it may still make sense to go over your options.

Medicare is updated every year, from premium changes to new private plans available in your area. Researching your options can help to ensure that you are not missing out on a better plan.

There is an additional enrollment period for beneficiaries who already have Medicare Advantage to make changes after open enrollment ends as well. That period lasts from Jan. 1 to March 31.

When heading into open enrollment, you should ask yourself several questions about your current coverage. Answering these questions can help you know what to look for during open enrollment and to make the right choices for your coverage.

You certainly don’t want to end up in a position where you cannot afford your health coverage. If you were struggling to pay your premiums last year, then it may be time for you to switch to a cheaper plan.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Medicare Advantage was more than $300 more expensive per person in 2019 than Original Medicare.

If you have a private plan and are unable to afford it, then you can use open enrollment to switch back to Original Medicare. If you’re struggling to pay for Original Medicare, then you may be eligible for the Medicare Savings Program if your monthly income is below a certain limit.

You can call Medicare or your State Medical Assistance office to get more info.

Remember that Original Medicare does not include Part D. So if you have Original Medicare, you do not have prescription drug coverage.

You may want to look into purchasing a standalone Part D plan if this is the case. The standalone plan acts on its own so it can be paired with Original Medicare and offer you coverage.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. If your plan does not, then you can research and switch to a plan available where you live that does.

Dental and vision coverage may become more important to you as you age, since these are areas that can worsen as time goes on.

If you are expecting to need dental or vision coverage in the next year, then it naturally makes sense to switch to a plan that offers it.

Original Medicare does not offer dental or vision coverage and you cannot get it through a Medigap plan either. You’re only option for coverage is to switch to a private plan.

Medicare Advantage plans typically include both dental and vision coverage, but the exact level of coverage will vary from plan to plan.

You should research the plans available to you to compare dental and vision offerings.

If you were diagnosed with a new illness in the last year, then it may make sense to determine if your current plan is the best option for combatting that illness.

Depending on your condition, you may find that a different plan offers more coverage for the treatment and services that you need. A different plan may be more advantageous in terms of when and how you pay as well.

You may also find that your current plan provides the coverage that you need. But you should still consider researching your other options to ensure you are not missing out on a plan that better suits you.

If your doctor does not accept your current Medicare plan, then it is very likely that you will need to find another plan. If not, then you will need to find another doctor.

The majority of the doctors in the United States accept Original Medicare, so it would be unlikely that you would have this issue if you are enrolled in Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans do often require you to receive care within a plan network. So if you joined a private plan and your doctor was not included in that network, you would have to find an in-network care provider.

Medicare Advantage plans are available regionally, and many require you to stay within a plan network.

If you are planning to be on the move a lot or splitting your time between different parts of the U.S. in the coming year, it may make sense to opt for Original Medicare, since you’re covered at any doctor enrolled in Medicare.

And if you are planning on spending lots of time abroad, your only option for international coverage is through Medigap. Supplement insurance has its own open enrollment period that lasts for six months after you first have Part B.

If you miss this window, it may be difficult to get a Medigap plan, depending on the state you live in.