Medicare Open Enrollment Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2021

 

It’s time to pick a Medicare Advantage plan for coverage beginning January 1 2022.

Open enrollment is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2021

• ·         Is your current Medicare Advantage plan available next year?

• ·         Are your current doctors included in your plan for next year?

• ·         Review the costs you know you will be paying next year with your current plan and for two or three other plans with similar coverage.

Different plans, even when offering similar coverage will have different out of pocket maximums, copays, and prescription costs. You can’t guarantee what your health costs will be for 2022 but you can plan for it.

Due to doctor’s retiring, moving, or dropping out of plans, you might not be able to keep all of your current doctors. It’s important to know which one(s) you have to keep. It can be a tough decision but it’s in your best interest to hang on to a good doctor if you can.

In my own case for next year, I chose a Medicare Advantage plan with a small monthly premium. I know what my minimum number of specialist appointments will be next year and the copay for a specialist in my plan is enough less to more than make up for the small monthly premium.

It’s worth the time and effort to check out several Managed Advantage plans for 2022 and even more important to not blindly sign up for the same plan that you’ve had for 2021.