Be Very Careful During the Open Enrollment Period!

Just a quick word of warning for all my friends and clients on Medicare. We are currently in a period that Medicare refers to as the Open Enrollment Period. This period started January 1st and ends March 31st. It allows anyone with a Medicare Advantage plan to make a one time change, either to a different Medicare Advantage plan, or go back to original medicare. The reason I bring all this up is that I’ve gotten questions and comments about the commercials that Joe Namath is running about how great this company is that got him his Medicare benefits and how everything is free!! His commercials are not the only ones either.

PLEASE BE WARY! Before you make a change to your coverage, do yourself a favor and consult with an actual insurance professional, preferably and independent broker who ISN’T tied to any one insurance company. These companies WILL put you in a different plan, but likely not the plan that fits you best. You may quickly find that some of your prescriptions may not be covered, and some or all of your doctors may not take the plan they’ve put you on. At that point, it’s too late to do anything and you’d be stuck with your new plan until the next Annual Enrollment period.

Again, it doesn’t have to be me, but before you call an 800 number and make a potentially disastrous plan change, contact an independent insurance broker! Find someone who will look out for YOUR best interests, not the company THEY work for!