Medicare & You

Every year The Medicare & You handbook for the upcoming year is sent out to Medicare recipients before the period of Open Enrollment (beginning October 15.).  You should have your Medicare & You book by now and have hopefully reviewed it.  Each year there is information specific to the Medicare plans, changes in coverage for all Medicare recipients, and changes related to your particular Medicare plan. This is important information.  Failing to review the information and get questions answered can have very consequential outcomes.  You don’t want to learn, in an emergency room, that the procedure you need isn’t covered by your plan.  Or that there is a process that must be followed before your plan will cover your procedure, and it wasn’t followed.

Pay attention to notices you receive from the plan in which you are currently enrolled.  Note any changes to coverage for the upcoming year. How will those changes impact you?  Make a detailed list of all your prescription medications including the dosages. Have a list of the healthcare providers you use for your care.

It is necessary to check any plan you are considering for next year to ensure all your providers are in the plan and that your medications are covered by the plan. Make no commonsense assumptions about coverage. Just because a plan covers a particular dosage of a medication, doesn’t automatically insure they cover a lower dose.  All of the medications by dosage are included in the coverage information about each plan. Check it out carefully and find your medication on the list.

You can go online and review your Medicare coverage and the plans by using your Medicare account. If you need help navigating the Medicare system, you can call 1-800 994-9422, CHOICES, for a counselor to assist you.