The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This is generally the only time during the year when individuals can change their Medicare plan choice. If your premium has increased, your health has changed or you’re curious about whether you could save money or get more from your Medicare plan, you can use this opportunity to reevaluate your options and shop for a new plan.
The process can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s a breakdown of the information you should consider as you think through what kind of Medicare coverage you want for 2022.
Identify Your Medicare Coverage Needs
Things can change throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to consider your benefit usage over the past 12 months as a way to anticipate upcoming needs and estimate your annual costs for 2022. This should include common expenses such as monthly premiums, deductibles, copays and prescription drug costs. If the medications you take have changed or you’ve been diagnosed with a new medical condition, your current Medicare plan might not be the right fit for your situation.
In addition to personal needs, Medicare plans can also change. Premiums can fluctuate, prescription drugs can be added or removed from the coverage list and carriers may adjust benefits. This is why it’s important to review your Medicare plan each year to make sure your insurer’s proposed benefits meet your current needs.
Understand Your Medicare Coverage Options
Original Medicare, which is offered by the federal government, is the most basic form of Medicare coverage and consists of Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (medical coverage). Original Medicare only covers about 80 percent of your medical expenses; it does not include prescription drug coverage.
To help cover the remaining 20 percent not covered by Original Medicare, many people choose to enroll in additional coverage with a Medicare Advantage or a Medigap plan. Both are offered by private insurance companies and have a monthly premium in addition to your Part B premium. Some Medicare Advantage plans, including several options offered by Priority Health, have premiums as low as $0 per month.
During the Medicare Annual Election Period, you have the option to enroll in or switch to a new Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan. Here’s what you need to know about your options:
- Medicare Advantage plans offer everything Original Medicare does, plus more. Most plans include prescription drug coverage and extras such as dental coverage and gym memberships, as well as services to help you manage your health. Medicare Advantage plans tend to have lower premiums and offer a network of doctors, but some also offer out-of-network and out-of-state coverage.
- Medigap plans, also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, work side-by-side with Original Medicare and help pay deductibles, coinsurance or copayments that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. With a Medigap plan, you can go to any doctor who participates with Medicare. However, these plans don’t include prescription drug coverage, so you’ll need to purchase a Part D plan separately.
Determine Which Medicare Plan is for You this Annual Election Period
Monthly premiums. You’ll typically pay less in monthly premiums with a Medicare Advantage plan. Some plans, including several offered by Priority Health, start as low as $0 per month. Since most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage (called MAPD plans), you won’t have a separate monthly premium for a Part D plan.
Medigap plans generally have higher monthly premiums. You’ll also need to purchase Part D prescription coverage separately. However, as a trade-off for higher monthly premiums, your costs at the time of care—such as copays—are reduced.
Added value. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll often have access to extras not included with a Medigap plan—such as a gym membership, dental, vision and hearing coverage, medication reviews and more.
Out-of-pocket limit. Medicare Advantage plans have a maximum amount that members will pay out of pocket for medical expenses. Different plans have different maximums, but once you spend that certain amount the plan pays 100 percent of the services outlined as benefits in your plan. Medigap plans, on the other hand, do not have a cap for the amount you’ll pay out of pocket per year.
Increased flexibility. Medicare Advantage plans are organized around a network of providers, usually within a specific region or state. However, all Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for emergency and urgent care, including a hospital stay if you need to be admitted, no matter where you are in the United States. For other services, you will generally pay less if you go to an in-network provider, although many plans offer out-of-network or out-of-state coverage options as well.
With a Medigap plan, you get the flexibility to see any provider who accepts Medicare throughout the United States.
Take Advantage of Resources During the 2022 Annual Election Period
There’s a wealth of information and tools available to help you as you evaluate your Medicare options and choose the best plan for your needs.
A great first step is medicare.gov, which offers a simplified flow chart outlining different plan options and resources to help answer any questions. You can also check insurance plans or your trusted insurance agent to see if they have any specific tools that may be helpful in your search. For example, Priority Health offers an interactive Plan Advisor tool and plan estimate calculator that helps you choose the right plan for your specific needs.
For additional information, download a free copy of Priority Health’s Smart Choice E-Guide, which will help you understand all of your Medicare options.
