Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 and older and for people with disabilities who have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least two years.  Each year, Medicare has an open enrollment period that runs from October 15 to December 7 (right now!). During this time, people who receive Medicare or have a Medicare Advantage Plan can make changes to their insurance plan. The only other time you can make changes to your Medicare health coverage is when you have a qualifying event.

Review Your Coverage

If you receive Medicare, it can be helpful to review your coverage during this time of year to see if it’s meeting your needs or if your plan is making changes to what they cover. Your insurance may be meeting your needs, or you may find that other plans offer better coverage for the services you use. Insurance plans can change what and how much they cover every year, so even if your plan meets your needs right now, it’s a good idea to check if there will be any changes to your plan in the new year. If you’re finding your plan doesn’t meet your needs or they will no longer cover a service or prescription you need, you might consider switching to a new plan. If you decide to switch to a new plan, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to find out which plans are available where you live and enroll.

Get Help Paying for Medicare Costs

If your out-of-pocket costs are too high and you have a low income, you may be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program. Medicare Savings Programs offer different levels of help based on your income. Each program helps pay for your Part A (hospital) or Part B (medical) premium, and may also help pay your deductible, copays, and coinsurance if you qualify.

If your prescription drug costs are too high and you have a low income, you may be eligible for Medicare’s Extra Help program. Extra Help pays for your Part D (prescription) premium and deductible. When enrolled in Extra Help, the most you will pay for each covered prescription is $12.15 if you use a participating pharmacy.

Get Help Understanding Your Options

If you need help understanding your Medicare options, reach out to your local State Insurance Assistance Program. This program is run by trained volunteers and offers free, unbiased guidance on Medicare to help you make decisions. They can also help you understand if you may be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help.