This is a time period from October 15 – December 7 that is dedicated to Medicare beneficiaries already
on Medicare that want to make a change to their Medicare Plan. It’s crucial for beneficiaries to
carefully review their current coverage, assess any changes in their healthcare needs, and
explore available plan options. Comparing premiums, copayments, and coverage details can
help individuals make informed decisions about their Medicare coverage for the upcoming year.
Failure to make changes during the AEP may limit options until the next enrollment period
unless the individual qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period due to specific life events.
Changes to your Medicare plan will take effect January
If you make no changes to your Medicare plan, then your plan automatically renews, there is nothing for
you to do. You may receive new cards for your drug plan and/or Medicare Advantage Plan in the mail.
If you make no changes to your Medicare plan, then your plan automatically renews, there is nothing for
you to do. You may receive new cards for your drug plan and/or Medicare Advantage Plan in the mail.
If you currently are on a drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan, then your carrier will send you in the
mail before the end of September a document called the Annual Notice of Change. This will address any
changes on your plan for the upcoming year. This document often gets overlooked in all the mail you
already receive.
Medigap plans do not coincide with the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period October 15 – December 7.
If you have a premium increase, you would be notified by your carrier a month or two before the
original start date of your Medigap. These plans stay the same and don’t change year to year in
coverage.
If you have a high premium on your Medigap, you can change to another Medigap plan with a lower
rate by answering health questions. Acceptance to another Medigap is not guaranteed at this point, you
could get denied at this point and must stay in your current Medigap plan or decide to change to a
Medicare Advantage during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7.
Beneficiaries that want to try and get a lower rate on their Medigap plan can change any time of the
year to another Medigap.
We do not charge any fees to review plans or help a beneficiary change plans. We get paid directly by
the carriers upon their enrollment in a new plan. Our focus is pairing beneficiaries with the plan that fits
their budget, doctors and healthcare needs overall.
Don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or in person, unless you contacted them first and gave them permission to contact you.
Be careful of mail that looks official and read the fine print! Official return
addresses to pay attention to will be from your carrier, Centers for Medicare
Medicaid (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services and Social Security Administration.
If someone calls and asks for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits, hang up and call MEDICARE at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY: 1-877-486-2048.