How comparing medicare plans could save you money

Medicare Open Enrollment is here. Now’s the time to review coverage and select a plan that meets your health care needs.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period gives everyone with Medicare the opportunity to make changes to their health plans or prescription drug plans for coverage beginning January 1, 2022. Don’t delay, the Open Enrollment period ends December 7.

Comparing plans can be easy

Medicare plans can change year to year – even your current plan may be changing. Medicare.gov makes it easy to compare coverage options, shop for plans and feel confident about your choices. You can do a side-by-side comparison of plan coverage, costs and quality ratings to help you more easily see the differences between plans. If you choose a new plan for 2022, you can enroll there. If your current coverage still meets your health care needs, you don’t have to do anything.

Open enrollment (October 15-December 7) is your chance to compare your choices for the year ahead and to see if you could save money all year long. 

Here are some things to consider when shopping for Medicare coverage:

• Check if your doctors are still in-network and your prescriptions are on the plan’s formulary.

• The plan with the lowest monthly premium may not always be the best fit for your health needs.

• Look at the plan’s deductible and other out-of-pocket costs that factor into your total costs.

• Some plans offer extra benefits, like vision, hearing or dental coverage, which could help meet your unique health care needs in 2022.

Medicare is here to help

Here are three ways you can compare plans:

• Find plans at Medicare.gov, where you can see estimates for all your prescriptions.  

• Call 800/MEDICARE. Help is available 24 hours a day, including weekends.

• Help in your community is also available. You can get personalized health insurance counseling at no cost to you from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Visit shiptacenter.org, or call 800/MEDICARE for your SHIP’s phone number. Many SHIPs also have virtual counseling available.

Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7. Now is the time to act if you want to enroll in or make changes to your Medicare health or prescription drug plans for coverage beginning January 1, 2022. If your current coverage still meets your needs, then you don’t have to do anything. Remember, if you miss the December 7 deadline, you will likely have to wait a full year before you are able to make changes to your Medicare coverage. 

For more information, visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 800/MEDICARE (800-633-4227). Teletype users can call 877/486-2048. Help is available 24 hours a day, including weekends. If you need help in a language other than English or Spanish, let the customer service representative know the language. 

Courtesy Family Features