Medicare Open Enrollment 2019 – Sign Up or Make Changes Now!
Surveys show that most people who sign up for Medicare are overwhelmingly satisfied with their care. If you are eligible for Medicare but haven’t signed up yet, open enrollment for 2019 runs from October 15, 2018 to December 7, 2018. Now is the perfect time to talk to your Medicare broker in Santa Rosa about how you can enroll or make changes to your plan before open enrollment ends.
If you miss the open enrollment period, you’ll be unable to enroll or make changes until the next enrollment period in 2019. If you want to switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage but miss the enrollment period, you may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan that gives you interim coverage until the next open enrollment period arrives.
Changes You Can Make During Open Enrollment
You can make a variety of changes to your current Medicare coverage during the Medicare open enrollment 2019 period, including:
Switch from your current Medicare Part D plan to anotherSwitch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare, or vice versaEnroll in Medicare Part D if you didn’t immediately do so when you became eligible (although you may be subjected to a late enrollment penalty)
If you miss the annual enrollment period (AEP), you may still be able to make certain changes to your plan during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (January 1 – February 14). You can generally only make two types of changes during this time: Enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan and switch from your Medicare Advantage plan to the Original Medicare plan.
How To Enroll in Medicare Advantage
Are you thinking about enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan? If so, you need to make sure you meet certain criteria, including:
You must already be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and BYou can’t be diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (exceptions may apply)You must live in the service area for the plan
In addition to delivering Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the Medicare Advantage plan also includes additional coverage options like routine vision services, prescription drug coverage and other benefits. Since the Advantage plan can change from year to year, you’ll receive an Annual Notice of Change every fall. Read through the notice carefully to understand the benefits your plan will offer in the coming months.
Learn More
Sackett & Associates Insurance Services knows how to help individuals enroll in Medicare. For more information about how to enroll or change your plan during Medicare open enrollment 2019, contact us at 707-823-3689 or send your questions to us through our online form. We also invite you to like us on Facebook, find us on LinkedIn and subscribe to our blog.
