What Should You Do to Change Your Medicare Plans Online?

Medicare is a federal government health insurance program available to people reaching 65 years of age, or any age who have received Social Security Disability benefits for at least 24 months, or have end-stage renal disease or ALS.  There are four main parts to Medicare, Parts A through D.  Parts A and B offered by the federal government through Medicare  deal with hospitalization and major medical, respectively and are known as Original Medicare.  Part C is regulated by Medicare but offered through private insurance carriers as Medicare Advantage plans which replace the federal government and Original Medicare as the primary payor for hospitalization and major medical.  Part D Prescription plans, also regulated by Medicare but offered through private insurance carriers provide coverage for prescription drugs. 

Making Switches Between Various Plans

Recently, selected carriers in certain zip codes have been offering Medicare Advantage  plans with Part D prescription coverage (“MAPD”), a zero dollar premium and a Medicare Part B premium giveback (in whole or in part).  Some of these plans also offer 100% coverage for a specific dollar amount of over the counter, non-prescription items.  Medicare gives you the option of making a switch from your old MAPD plan or Original Medicare and/or a Medicare Supplement plan to an MAPD plan that offers these newer monetary benefits.

Alternatively, you  signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan, but   have realized that you really want Original Medicare Part A and B with a Medicare Supplement plan and a new Part D Prescription  plan in order to have the freedom of selecting any doctor or healthcare facility anywhere in the USA that accepts Medicare assignment.

Consider the Time of Making Change

If you want to change plans, Medicare only allows you to do it at specific times of the year in order to join a new MAPD or PDP plan. Of course, you can select to join a Medicare Supplement plan at any time during the year but you will only want to make that change when you can also select a new stand alone Rx PDP plan during AEP or OEP. You can make the switch in the Annual Enrollment Period (“AEP”) that extends from  October 15^thto  December 7^thor the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period(“OEP”) that extends from  January1^st to  March 31^steach year. Depending on a change in your specific circumstances, Medicare also makes Special Enrollment Periods (“SEP”) available throughout the year.  Call our agents to discuss more dates that might be available in your county and zip code depending on your specific circumstances.

Switching Plans

or, if you wish to switch to a new Medicare Advantage Plan, you can do so during AEP or OEP when you can also change your Medicare Part D Prescription plan (“PDP”). You must note that you are disenrolled from your previous plan as soon as the new coverage plan begins.

You can easily change Medicare plans online through our online insurance agency. They will also tell you about the difference in costs and benefits that will come with the changes to make a more informed decision.