Medicare Insurance
October 2, 2018by Jim Wahlberg
It’s that time again…mailboxes will be filling up, advertisements will be falling out of the newspaper, and every other commercial will announce it. What is it?!? It’s Medicare enrollment season! Ready or not, October 15th begins a new Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). I get a lot of questions this time of year so I thought I would try to answer some of the most often asked questions in this post.
What is the Annual Enrollment Period? The AEP is a timeframe that allows Medicare beneficiaries an opportunity to either enroll, disenroll, or change Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription drug plans. This time period does not apply to Medicare Supplement plans.
What are the dates of the Annual Enrollment Period? All changes need to occur between October 15th – December 7th. We can begin meeting with people starting October 1st to discuss the benefits for the upcoming year. However, we cannot accept any applications until October 15th and we cannot submit any applications after December 7th. There are almost no exceptions to this rule.
Do I have to call or sign anything to keep my current coverage? Generally, NO. If your current plan is continuing into 2019, you’re satisfied with the way it worked, and you understand the upcoming changes in coverage, then you do not need to do anything. A general rule of thumb is not sending your phone number to a mailer you have received unless you would like to receive calls from the source of that mailer. If you do have question about Medicare coverage, feel free to call our office and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.
Is there any cost to meet with your office to sign up or make changes? No! You don’t pay anything to meet with us and you will not pay any more buying a product through our office compared to buying it directly from the company. We are independent brokers representing most of the major insurance companies in our area. We’re happy to discuss your current plan and make recommendations for change only when it benefits you.
Don’t let the Annual Enrollments Season overwhelm you. Please give us a call if you would like a personal review of your coverage for 2019.