By Sherry Gordon-Harris
Who remembers this? “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.”
It’s a children’s counting nursery rhyme, used to select a person in games such as tag. You can replace “catch a tiger” with any word (catch a boy, catch a girl, etc.) or any animal. While this method was a fun one to use for selecting a member for a tag team, it might not be wise to use it in selecting a Medicare Advantage plan.
This is September. It’s time for Medicare! “I thought October 15 through December 7 was the time for Medicare?”, you ask. Yes, but September is preparation time, as I call it.
September is the month when Medicare plans normally send out what’s called an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you’re in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or a Stand-Alone Prescription Drug plan (Part D) you should receive this from your plan in late September. The ANOC includes any changes to your current plan in coverage, costs and more that will be effective the following January.
If your ANOC has changes you don’t like, or if your needs have changed or you feel like it’s time to look for something else, you can consider switching to a new plan. So be sure to open any letters you get in the mail from your plan, especially in September. Review and determine if you may need to make a change during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), also known as the Annual Election Period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
This ANOC information can help you make informed decisions on things such as premium, physicians and prescriptions. So, no need to use the “Eeny Meeny Miny Moe” method to select a Medicare plan.
Want to learn more about Medicare in general and how all of its “parts” work? Or are you about to turn age 65, the common age of eligibility for Medicare, and would like help sorting out all the potentially overwhelming information?
Health Alliance is happy to help. You may attend one of multiple presentations happening in your local area, both virtually and in-person.
This presentation webinar offers an overview of Medicare coverage options as you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. We’ll help you sort through your Medicare research and answer any questions. Join us!
Industry Brewery Co., 8012 N. Hale Ave., Peoria Heights, IL
It’s already a great hangout. Why not stop in for a drink and appetizer while you learn about Medicare? This presentation offers an overview of Medicare coverage options as you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare. We’ll help you sort through your Medicare research and answer any questions. Join us! RSVP is highly recommended as space may be limited.
For questions about the online or the in-person event or your registration, please contact us at Outreach@HealthAlliance.org or self-register at HealthAlliance.org/events.
Sherry Gordon-Harris is a community liaison at Health Alliance. She’s a wife and mother of two boys. She enjoys traveling, collecting dolls, and hosting princess parties and pageants.
Like this article? Feel free to respond to Outreach@HealthAlliance.org. Thanks for reading!