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Are you a Medicare beneficiary on a new Medicare Advantage? Now is the time to determine if your new plan will truly meet your needs for 2020. That’s because we’re in the midst of the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period.
Medicare Advantage open enrollment gives beneficiaries with buyer’s remorse an opportunity to switch plans. From now through March 31, you are able to either choose a more suitable Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare.
This enrollment period is important because Medicare Advantage plans change every year. Providers come and go and prescription costs fluctuate. Imagine if your favorite specialist was no longer covered in your insurance plan’s network, or if one of your needed medications jumped from $25 a month to $250 a month. In both cases, you would probably want to switch to a different plan.
Many times, people enroll in a Part C plan because they heard rave reviews from a friend or neighbor. Depending on your doctor, your medical conditions, your prescriptions, and your budget, there might be a better plan for you. Others may have been enticed by supplemental coverage for items like transportation services, nicotine replacement therapy, and even over-the-counter medications. While these new benefits can be attractive, not everyone needs them.
Weighing your many different Medicare options can be a tricky task. That’s where the Area Agency on Aging’s SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) can help.
SHINE empowers seniors, their caregivers, and family members to make informed decisions about health care coverage. SHINE counselors can also help beneficiaries understand benefits available through Medicare, like preventive health care services, and can assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with applying for cost-savings programs. Counselors can also educate beneficiaries to protect, detect, and report potential errors, fraud, and abuse with their Medicare coverage.
SHINE counselors are currently available to help beneficiaries evaluate Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans. Our volunteer SHINE counselors provide free, unbiased, and personalized assistance with Medicare and related issues. SHINE is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and part of the national SHIP Program.
Remember, you have until the end of March to take advantage of Medicare Advantage open enrollment. Any beneficiary who is currently enrolled in an advantage plan is able to switch plans once during this period. But if you’re currently enrolled in Original Medicare, you aren’t eligible to change your medical coverage during this period.
SHINE counseling services are available at locations across Southwest Florida. To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor, call AAASWFL’s toll-free Elder Helpline at 1-866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER). A list of counseling sites can also be found on the statewide SHINE website at www.floridashine.org.
If you’re concerned about your Medicare Advantage coverage, take action now, before it’s too late to switch.
Camilita Aldridge is the SHINE Manager at the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida. AAASWFL is a nonprofit organization committed to connecting older adults (ages 60 and over) and people with disabilities to resources and assistance for living safely with independence and dignity.
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February 25, 2020 at 10:40PM
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Opinion: There’s still time to change your Medicare Advantage plan - News-Press
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