If you need to make changes to your Medicare coverage for the upcoming year, mark your calendar for December 6th! It’s when the 2020 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will end.
After that date, you will not be able to make changes to your existing Medicare coverage until next October.
In case you’ve been thinking about making changes to your existing Medicare plan, now is the time to take action!
Book your appointment as soon as possible
While December 6th may seem a ways off, November is a busy month for everyone, including your plan providers.
Additionally, Thanksgiving falls on the 28th of this year, a little over a week before the end of AEP.
If we factor in weekends, the available time for getting an appointment and processing your application starts to narrow.
Get in early to get the one-on-one attention you deserve
During AEP, your carrier’s calendar fills up fast and they get strapped for time. Each application is time-intensive, requiring much more than a simple phone call or filling out a form.
During your scheduled appointment, your plan specialist will discuss your existing benefits and any Medicare changes that may affect your plan. For instance, this year, some beneficiaries may not qualify for Medicare Plan F.
Once you and your plan specialist have worked out what you need, they’ll submit any plan changes. The insurance carrier must then approve the application.
If any adjustments need to be made, your plan specialist will let you know, discuss your options, and resubmit your application.
The AEP application process—from your consultation to plan approval—must be completed by December 6th.
How to prepare for your Medicare plan call
Once you have a scheduled appointment with your plan provider, take some time to prepare for your AEP appointment.
After all, Medicare can get complicated. That includes understanding plan changes you can make during AEP 2020.
Here are some questions to consider:
Have you had the same plan for two or more years?
It’s easy to get comfortable with an existing plan. Maybe you receive the Annual Notice of Change letter each year and figure you don’t need to make any changes.
However, your health needs may have changed—or improved. Maybe you no longer take medication because your health improved. By revisiting your prescription drug plan, you may be able to adjust your benefits and save some money on coverage costs.
Were you happy with your coverage last year?
If you made changes to your plan last AEP or started receiving Medicare benefits for the first time, you may want to assess how well your insurance plan held up.
Did you have enough coverage? Are you comfortable paying the same deductibles for another twelve months? Were there any surprises? Make a note of your experiences and share them with your plan specialist.
Are there additional services or medications you may need this year?
Maybe you and your medical provider are monitoring a health condition. Now is an excellent time to talk to your physician about a timeline for treating it.
If you decide to take action this year, you will want to make sure you have the right coverage.
Also, if you wish to make changes to your Medicare benefits, make sure your healthcare provider will accept your new plan.
Taking charge of your healthcare
If you’ve decided your Medicare benefits are working well for you, that’s great! However, should you want to make any changes to your existing coverage, you must make an appointment with your plan specialist as soon as possible.
The MySeniorHealthPlan.com team can answer all your questions and guide you through the process. Call today toll free: 877.255.6273
