However, the Medicare AEP only lasts from October 15 through December 7 of each year. Some people may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and may be able to change plans outside of the AEP, but for many, this will be the only time to change plans!
What you Should do During Medicare AEP
Even if you think you have the best Medicare plan in the world, here are a few things you should definitely do during or leading up to Medicare AEP (October 15 – December 7). If you need help with this, we advise giving us a call.
1. Check Eligibility for Savings.
Apply for LIS (Extra Help) prescription drug savings program) and other Medicare Savings Programs to see if you could be saving money. If you have low income, you may even want to try applying for Medicaid! The results could influence what coverage you are eligible for this AEP.
Did you receive your ANOC (Annual Notice of Change), and is anything in your plan changing? These letters are usually sent and received every year at the beginning of September.
What insurance do you have now?
Do you have Original Medicare only, or do you have a private plan as well?
Do you have enough coverage?
Does your plan fit into your budget, or could you be saving more money?
Are all of your doctors and prescriptions covered by your current plan?
Ask yourself these questions and take notes, because there may be something better out there.
3.Notate your Life Changes.
Did you start seeing a new doctor this year, or do you have a problem with your current doctor? Not all plans accept the same doctors, so make sure you’re documenting your current physicians so you can easily confirm they are in network with any potential plans you’re considering for the new year.
Did you gain or lose a job, or suddenly develop financial stress? There are multiple ways to manage your Medicare based on a budget and a licensed agent can walk you through the options you may qualify for.
Were you diagnosed with a new health condition that requires expensive treatments? Some plans are specifically designed for certain chronic conditions.
Think about not only your past year but what you expect to happen over the next year. Think about what type of coverage you might need to get yourself through it all.
4.See What Medicare Plans are Available this Year.
Every year, new Medicare plans may come to the market, and old plans may change what they are offering. It’s important to look at the new information instead of just assuming that your old plan will stay the same. If your plan does change what they are offering, you will be notified – but it is important to look at other changes in your area as well.
Maybe there’s a great new doctor you’ve wanted to see, but she doesn’t accept your current plan! Or, maybe you suddenly have access to a plan with a five-star rating, when previously you only had access to four-star plans!
An important thing to note is that new benefits are not available to review and discuss each year until October 1st. You may need to speak with a licensed agent to ensure you’re reviewing the plans for the upcoming benefit year and not mistakenly comparing plan benefits that will ultimately be changing.
5.Schedule an Appointment with a Licensed Agent.
We know it’s nice to think that you can do it all yourself and that with the internet, you don’t need an insurance agent anymore! But, that’s not always true. The benefits of meeting with a licensed insurance agent are simple: it’s free, it’s easy, and it can’t hurt!
Our agents are licensed and represent a variety of different insurance companies, meaning they are not all biased towards one plan option.
Your plan won’t cost any more money whether you meet with an agent or not, so meeting an agent can only help you. A licensed agent can walk you through everything that is available in your local area and help you select the best option based on your needs. Plus, let us repeat – the meeting is free!
We’re here to help, so we don’t want to only talk about the positives. Here are some things that you should NOT do during the Medicare AEP:
1. Don’t Jump into a new Medicare Plan Too Fast.
Do you understand how to choose a Medicare plan? Sometimes good deals are tempting, and it’s easy to jump into a shiny new plan because the costs are lower or there’s an added benefit. Make sure you’ve considered everything before you switch because it might not be easy to switch back. Make sure that your doctors work with the new plan, it covers your prescriptions, and there aren’t any hidden costs. Also, make sure the new benefit is something that will actually be useful to you!
2.Don’t Misunderstand Medigap.
Medigap, or Medicare Supplements work differently from Medicare Advantage and other types of Medicare plans. Technically, Medigap enrollment is not limited to the AEP. However, that does not mean that you should just change back and forth between different Medigap plans any time.
If you enroll in Medigap outside of your Initial Enrollment Period (when you first become eligible for and enroll in Medicare), you may be put through an underwriting process and may have higher fees based on your age and any preexisting conditions. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans do NOT take age and preexisting conditions into account, but Medigap plans if you wait too long to enroll.
3. Don’t Avoid Researching Medicare Plan Options.
If you already know the name of a carrier, you might be tempted to go straight to their website and enroll in a plan that looks good online. However, there may be more than one carrier offering plans in your area. So, how do you look at all of them easily?
Start by using a plan comparison tool, like our free Medicare Plan Finder. Then, once you’ve compared a few options, consider taking that research to a licensed agent who can talk to you about what you’re looking at and why the differences matter.
Ready for AEP?
To schedule an appointment with one of our licensed agents, call 844-431-1832 or click here. We can’t wait to help you get the coverage you deserve!
2020 Medicare Plan Finder: How to Find the Best Medicare Plan in 2020
It’s time to start thinking about what you want your Medicare coverage to look like next year. Did your current plan change? Did you develop a new health condition and need more coverage? Are you enrolling in Medicare for the first time?
No matter your situation, the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 through December 7. If you used AEP to enroll, your plan became effective on January 1, 2020.
By now, you may have realized that there are hundreds of Medicare plans out there, all offering slightly different benefits at different costs. So how do you choose?
The best Medicare plan for 2020 is the one that fulfills your needs. To figure out which Medicare plan is best for you, ask yourself the following questions:
What specific medical services do I need coverage for (ex: lab tests, blood work, surgery, chemotherapy, dental, etc.)
How much room do I have in my budget? Am I able to pay a little more to have more benefits?
Would I rather pay more on a monthly basis and pay very little when I visit the doctor, or is it better to pay a small amount every month but risk having higher copayments?
Who are the doctors and other providers who I want to be covered in my plan?
What prescriptions do I need coverage for?
Start by Choosing a Type of Plan
There are four main types of Medicare plans to consider when you begin your Medicare plan search. Start by comparing Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Supplements.
Keep in mind that you cannot have Medicare Advantage and a Prescription Drug Plan at the same time. You also cannot have Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement plan at the same time.
Which plan or combination of plans works best for you?
Medicare Advantage: A private plan that you can purchase once you have Original Medicare. Can add additional benefits such as hearing, vision, dental, fitness, etc. Can include a prescription benefit.
Prescription Drug Plans: Another type of private plan that you can purchase once you have Original Medicare. Usually only includes a prescription benefit.
Medicare Supplements (Medigap): Another type of private plan that you can have in addition to Original Medicare. Adds more financial coverage, like for copayments and deductibles.
You can choose from the following combinations:
Original Medicare only
Original Medicare and a Prescription Drug Plan
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Coverage
Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement AND standalone Prescription Drug Plan
Types of Medicare Plans
Original Medicare Only
Having Original Medicare only means you’ve enrolled in the government program, Medicare Part A and Part B, but you have not enrolled in an additional (private) plan. Parts A and B can cover some of your hospital and medical costs, but they do not cover prescription drugs and other additional benefits such as dental and vision.
Original Medicare and a Prescription Drug Plan
If you don’t think you need any other medical benefits aside from what parts A and B cover, but you do need prescription drug coverage, you can enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan in addition to your Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage
With a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, you’ll still have to pay your Part B premium, but you can get other benefits. MA plans can include additional health benefits such as fitness program memberships, dental care, vision, and more.
Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan
So, did you decide to go with Medicare Advantage? Great! Now, there are a few types of Medicare Advantage plans that may be available for you. First, ask yourself whether or not you need a large network and whether the freedom to see any doctor is important to you. Then, read through these important differences:
HMO Plans (Health Maintenance Organization) – You’ll select one primary physician. In some cases, you may only receive coverage for that one doctor (unless he or she refers you to a specialist). Requirements may vary based on your plan.
HMO-POS Plans (Point-Of-Service) – You’ll select one primary physician, but you’ll have the freedom to visit any specialist in your network for your other needs. You will be charged a fee for visiting specialists.
PPO Plans (Preferred Provider Organization) – You can see any doctor, but your costs will usually be lower if you choose one that is in your network.
PFFS Plans (Private Fee-For-Service) – You will not need referrals or a primary physician, but you’ll have to pick a doctor that accepts your PFFS plan.
SNP (Special Needs Plans) – Designed for those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, live in a nursing home, or have a chronic illness or disability.
MSA (Medical Savings Account) – Works like a tax-free savings account for your medical bills. Medicare will deposit money into your HSA. You can use that account to pay for medical expenses.
Medicare Advantage with Prescription Drug Coverage
Some select Medicare Advantage plans come with a prescription drug benefit. This is important because you can’t have BOTH a Medicare Advantage plan and a standalone prescription drug plan. If you like the idea of Medicare Advantage but need prescription coverage, a “MAPD” or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan may be right for you.
Medicare Supplement
Sometimes called “Medigap,” Medicare Supplement plans bridge the gap between your Part A and B costs and your out of pocket costs. For example, Medigap Plan A covers Part A* coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance and copayments, up to three pints of blood, and hospice coinsurance and copayments. It does not offer additional health benefits, but it eliminates many of the costs that come with Part A and B.
The best Medicare Supplement plan is the one that fits your needs at the time. For example, you might not need skilled nursing care when you first sign up for Medicare, so Plan A might work best for you. Eventually, your health condition may require more inpatient services and skilled nursing services, so Plan D may be a better fit.
*Be careful not to confuse Part A with Plan A
2020 Medicare Supplement Comparison Chart
Medicare Supplement AND a Prescription Drug Plan
Medicare supplements do not offer any prescription coverage, but you are able to enroll in both a Medicare Supplement plan and a standalone Prescription Drug Plan at the same time.
What is the Best Medicare Plan in 2020?
Everyone wants to know what the “best” Medicare plan is, but just like shopping for anything else, “best” can be subjective. If you were shopping for a vacuum cleaner, you’d probably search “best vacuum cleaners,” too, but what would you find?
We did that part for you, and we got about 228,000,000 results. You’re never going to sort through all those options, right?
Google search results for “Best Vacuum Cleaners”
When you really want to narrow down the best vacuum for your needs, you’re probably going to filter your search by price, capabilities, maybe even the size of the vacuum…any number of things that are going to narrow down your choices to what you really want to purchase.
While there probably aren’t 124,000,000 Medicare plans available to you, there are far too many for this to be a quick Google search! Like choosing the “best” vacuum, choosing the “best” Medicare plan for you requires some research.
Medicare Plan Finder Tool
Our Medicare Plan Finder tool compares plans from carriers in your area. You’ll have to tell us your birthdate and a few other things so that we can determine what you’re eligible for.
Once you’ve entered your information, you’ll see a graph showing you the names of the plans and the potential premiums you might owe for those plans. This is a great place to start your research.
We ran a sample search for a 76-year-old non-smoking woman in Nashville who wanted a low premium to show you what the results look like. Your online Medicare Plan Finder results may not look the same.
2020 Medicare Plan Finder Tool Search ResultsMedicare Plan Finder Tool (These search results may not be an accurate representation of your search results)
New Medicare.gov Tool
You may have heard the buzz about Medicare.gov’s new plan finder tool. They’re offering a “new and improved” experience after getting complaints about their old tool.
To use Medicare.gov’s tool, you’ll need to enter your Medicare number and some other information. Then, you’ll see a graph of the plans available in your area.
Scour the Internet
We don’t recommend this option, but you could start your Medicare plan shopping experience with a quick Google search. However, watch what happened when we Googled “best medicare plan.” The first four search results are ads.
Best Medicare Plans
The other thing you can try is going directly to the carrier websites, if you already know the name of a company you’d like to purchase from. However, keep in mind that those websites are only going to show you a select group of plans that they alone offer. You could be missing out on better plans from different carriers.
Meet With a Licensed Agent
Another option for Medicare plan research is to let a licensed agent do the work for you.
Let’s go back to our vacuum cleaner example. Imagine if you had someone do all the vacuum research for you and then present you with only one or two options that meet your needs. Imagine if that service was free, and all you had to do was talk to the agent for a few minutes to hear about all the benefits. What if the vacuum didn’t cost anything different just because you bought it from the agent instead of Amazon. Wouldn’t you take that deal?
At MedicarePlanFinder.com, we have agents across 38 states that can help you sort through your Medicare options and narrow it down for you. The appointments are free and easy, and you won’t pay any more for your Medicare plan whether you buy it from a licensed agent or online by yourself.
The difference is that our agents are experienced and can tell you all the ins and outs of your plan options (maybe even more than what is advertised online)!
Ready to get started? Give us a call at 844-431-1832 or click here to have an agent call you.
When Can You Enroll in Medicare in 2020?
Your enrollment periods will depend on a few factors, such as:
What type of coverage are you hoping to enroll in?
Are you over the age of 65?
Do you have a chronic condition or low income that qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period?
Do you have a qualifying life event such as moving to a new state where different plans are available?
Medicare Enrollment Periods | Medicare Plan Finder
Initial Enrollment Period
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the time you get started with Medicare coverage.
If you are eligible for Medicare due to age (you are over 65 or about to turn 65), your Initial Enrollment Period will last from three months before your 65th birthday through three months after.
Initial Enrollment Period Medicare
If you qualify for Medicare for another reason, such as having a disability or chronic illness, your Initial Enrollment Period will be the month of your diagnosis.
Annual Enrollment Period
Once you’ve enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you’re eligible for the Annual Enrollment Period. The AEP runs from October 15 through December 7 of each year. During this time, you can enroll in Medicare Advantage or Part D (prescription drug coverage).
Special Enrollment Period
There are two types of Special Enrollment Periods: Immediate/consequential and “long-term”. If you qualify for an immediate Special Enrollment Period, you typically have 90 days to make a change following a major life event. If you qualify for a “long-term” special enrollment period, you are able to change plans once per quarter for the first three quarters of the year (and during AEP, which falls during the fourth quarter of the year). Keep in mind that a SEP is never truly permanent, as you could lose your eligibility at any time due to a major life change.
To qualify for an “immediate” SEP, you must incur a major life change such as moving to a new service area that has different plans available (a different zip code), moving into or out of a medical facility, gaining or losing Medicaid eligibility, etc. You can also gain a SEP if your plan decides to leave the Medicare program
To qualify for a “long-term” SEP, you must be:
Eligible for Medicaid,
Eligible for a Medicare Savings Program,
Eligible for a Special Needs Plan, or
Eligible for LIS (Extra Help)
Other Enrollment Periods
Technically, there are two other Medicare enrollment periods as well.
The General Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 and is a time when people who missed their Initial Enrollment Period can sign up for Medicare parts A and B. The Open Enrollment Period also runs from January 1 through March 31 and is for those who selected a Medicare Advantage plan during AEP and changed their mind.
It’s important to make note of all the Medicare enrollment periods and which ones you are eligible for so that you don’t miss your chance to enroll!
Ready to get started? Give us a call at 844-431-1832 or click here to have an agent call you during your enrollment period.
This post was originally published on October 16, 2019, and was last updated on November 13, 2020.
Good News: 2021 Medicare Advantage Plans Have Higher Ratings and Lower Premiums
It’s time to start making decisions for your healthcare coverage in 2021. The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare beneficiaries is going on NOW and only lasts through December 7.
As you’re looking through your Medicare Advantage and Part D plan options for next year, you may notice that monthly premiums are shrinking and benefits are expanding!
CMS (The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) released a statement earlier this fall that said the average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021 will be the lowest it’s been in 14 years (since 2007!)
In fact, the average Medicare Advantage (MA) premium will see a decrease of 34.2% from 2017, while plan choice and benefits continue to expand. In some states like Alabama, Nevada, and Kentucky, the average premium decrease since 2017 will be closer to 50%.
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) will also have low premiums in 2021, with standard plans averaging around $30.50 a month. This marks a 12% decrease in PDP premiums since 2017.
Average monthly Medicare Advantage premiums
Average star ratings increasing
The average star ratings for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans in 2021 are set to increase significantly. About 77% of Medicare Advantage enrollees will have a plan with 4 or more stars, and 98% of those in a standalone PDP plan will have a rating of more than 3.5 stars.
There will also be more plans with a 5-star rating than were available in 2020, including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Anthem BCBS. Even the lowest-rated plans have improved to at least 2.5 stars.
CMS uses this Medicare star rating system for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to determine whether or not a plan is doing its job, and whether or not it can stay on the market. Plans that consistently receive poor ratings (one or two stars) will eventually be removed from the market.
Plans are given a star rating between one and five, with one being “poor” and five being “excellent.”
Medicare Advantage plans are rated on the following factors:
Level of access to preventive services (including annual physical exams and screenings)
Care coordination
How often members receive treatment for long-term conditions
Current member satisfaction
Plan performance in comparison to the previous year
Customer service quality
Part D plans are rated on the following:
Number of member issues with the plan
How many people left over one year
Patient safety while using prescriptions in the plan
Accuracy of pricing
Quality of care
Customer service quality
More and more Medicare Advantage and Part D plan carriers are entering the market every year, meaning there is more competition. More competition means that more plans are trying to be the most valuable to be able to compete. That’s why even though costs may be going down, plan ratings are still increasing.
If you plan on meeting with a licensed agent during this year’s Annual Enrollment Period, be sure to ask about four and five-star plans in your area!
3300Medicare Advantage star ratings increasing
Remind me: What is Medicare Advantage?
You can enroll in Medicare Advantage as an addition to your Original Medicare coverage. Since Medicare Advantage plans are owned and operated by private insurance companies and are not the same as the government Medicare program, the coverage is a bit different.
Medicare Advantage plans are able to cover things that Original Medicare is not, such as fitness programs, dental, vision, and prescription drugs.
Medicare Advantage plans might come with copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, but the average premium for 2021 is expected to be $21/month.
If you can afford to add a Medicare Advantage premium, the benefits may save you from thousands of dollars in healthcare costs later on.
Expanded benefits for 2021
Earlier this year, CMS released the 2021 benefit and cost sharing information on Medicare.gov. In large part due to the coronavirus pandemic, they are offering expanded benefits in several key areas, and many health care providers are taking advantage of this flexibility.
There will be over 4,800 Medicare Advantage plans in 2021 for enrollees to choose from, a 76.6% increase since 2017. The number of MA plans per country is also growing in the new calendar year.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 94% of all MA plans will provide added telehealth benefits. The current health crisis also drove CMS to develop the Part D Savings Model, which sets a $35 monthly copay rate for insulin. Over 1,750 MA and PDP plans are participating in this new model in 2021.Many health plans are also expanding their benefits for enrollees with chronic conditions. About 500 Medicare Advantage plans will feature either supplemental benefits or lower copays to those with specific chronic diseases or other conditions.
$0 Premiums and Special Needs Plans
Some people may even be eligible for a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan. Others still may be eligible for low-cost Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans.
CSNPs are Chronic Special Needs Plans and are for people who have certain chronic conditions and need additional coverage. ISNPs are Institutional Special Needs Plans and are for people who have been living in an institution such as an inpatient medical facility for 90 days or more. DSNPs are Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans and are for people who are dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
How to Get a Low-Cost, Five-Star Medicare Advantage Plan in 2020
Our licensed agents across the nation are contracted and certified to sell a number of Medicare Advantage plans. An agent can sit down with you and show you all of the top-rated plans available in your area and help you select which one is best for you.
To get in touch with a licensed agent, call 844-431-1832 or click here.
What Can You Do During the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
Watch this brief video first!
Annual Enrollment Period… Explained
Did you know that there are five different Medicare enrollment periods throughout the year? Not everyone will be eligible for every period, but everyone who has Medicare is eligible for the Annual Enrollment Period.
Be sure to keep track of each enrollment period so that you know when it’s your turn to make changes. Don’t go months with a bad plan just because you missed your enrollment period!
What/When is the Annual Enrollment Period?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 of each year. This is the time when all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible to make changes, which will go into effect on January 1 of the following year. It does not apply to people who have not yet enrolled in any form of Medicare coverage. If you’re enrolling for the first time, you’ll have an “Initial Enrollment Period.” You can use the AEP later to make changes if you don’t like the choices you made during your IEP.
Changing Medicare Plans After the Annual Enrollment Period
There are a few other times throughout the year when you may be eligible to make changes.
The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is for those enrolling in Medicare for the first time. If you are aging into the program, this will begin three months before your 65th birthday and end three months after. If you become eligible due to disability, your IEP will depend on your disability status or diagnosis.
The General Enrollment Period (GEP) is for those who missed their IEP. It runs from January 1 through March 31. If you enroll during the GEP, your coverage will begin on July 1. You may face a late enrollment penalty fee for not enrolling during your IEP. If you want to enroll in Medicare Advantage during the OEP, you can do that between April 1 and June 30, or you can wait for the AEP.
The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is not one specific time frame. You may qualify for a “temporary” SEP if you have a special circumstance that results in a loss of coverage, such as losing a job with coverage or moving to an area where different plans are available. You will likely have 30 days following the event to make a change. Some circumstances, like having a disability, can make you eligible for a different type of SEP. If you are disabled or have low-income and have a special needs plan, you can change plans once per quarter for the first three quarters of the year.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
How can I get a SEP for Medicare?
To qualify to change plans once every quarter for the first three quarters of the year, you must:
Be a member of a Medicare Savings Program or Medicaid
Be part of SPAP (State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program)
During AEP, you can make a number of different changes to your coverage, like:
Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan
Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan from what you had
Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and have only Part A and Part B
Add a Part D prescription drug plan
Change to a Medicare Advantage plan with a prescription drug benefit
Change from a MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan) to a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription coverage
Change from one Part D plan to another
Drop your prescription drug coverage and return to Original Medicare only
You can also add or remove Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage, but keep in mind that you can enroll in Medicare Supplements during any time of year. Enrollment periods to not apply to Medicare Supplement plans. However, if you enroll in Medigap any time past your Initial Enrollment Period, underwriting may apply, leaving you with higher costs than you could have had if you enrolled sooner.
The ability to make these changes every year is more important than you may realize.
Even if you think you’re happy with your plan, plans are allowed to change their benefits and costs every year. Your plan can add or remove benefits and make cost adjustments as they need to. At the same time, new plans are continually entering (and leaving) the market. It’s a good idea to take a look and see if there is a better plan for you each year.
Licensed agents are required to go through a training and certification process before they can sell to you. They are usually trained on what’s going on in the area that they sell in. They may be able to tell you about plans that you haven’t even heard about before, and they can help you sort through your options. It does not cost anything to meet with a Medicare Plan Finder licensed agent.
Can you Auto-Renew Medicare?
In most cases, you do not have to renew your plan each year. Your Medicare coverage will automatically continue as long as you want. The only reason your plan wouldn’t renew is if that specific plan itself leaves your service area or leaves Medicare.
However, that does not mean that you shouldn’t review your coverage each year. Have your finances or your healthcare needs changed? Has your plan changed its benefits or costs? Ask these questions every year to make sure you’re still getting the coverage you need.
New to Medicare
What’s new in 2020?
There are a few 2020 Medicare changes that may affect what you want to enroll in this year:
As of 2019, you may be able to change your Medicare Advantage plan during the OEP
How to Make Medicare Plan Changes
You can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan by getting help from a licensed agent. If you haven’t enrolled in Original Medicare yet, be sure to do that first by contacting Social Security either online or at 1-800-772-1213. You can also visit your local Social Security office.
To get in touch with a licensed agent in your area, click here or call 844-431-1832 (TTY 711). You can also go straight to our Medicare Plan Finder tool.
