Most people enroll in Medicare when they become eligible at age 65. But you also can change your coverage each fall. Fall enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. This is your chance to switch between original fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, the all-in-one managed care alternative to the traditional program. You also can re-shop your prescription drug coverage — whether that is a stand-alone Part D plan, or wrapped into an Advantage plan.
Joining me on the podcast this week to talk about fall enrollment is one of the most knowledgeable people in the country on Medicare. Frederic Riccardi is president of the Medicare Rights Center, an advocacy and consumer rights organization. Before taking the top job at the center earlier this year, Fred oversaw all of Medicare Rights’ client programming, including its National Consumer Helpline, which handles around 20,000 questions each year about Medicare.
It’s a good idea to do a checkup on your coverage, even if you are happy with your current choices. Prescription drug plans often revise their lists of covered drugs and their coverage rules. If you’re enrolled in an Advantage plan, this is your opportunity to make sure your health care providers will be in your plan during the coming year, and whether a move to original Medicare might make sense for you.
Fred and I talked about why it's important to shop, how to evaluate your current coverage, the tradeoffs between traditional and Medicare Advantage and much more.
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How to navigate Medicare's fall enrollment season - and why it's worth the bother