Medicare changes and Open Enrollment
Published on October 24, 2022 at 1:05pm CDT
Senior News
By Diane Kittelson, Pope County Senior Services Consultant/Coordinator
Seniors, don’t forget to get your tickets for the Annual Fall Party! This event is put on by the Pope County Council on Aging; a group of volunteers from all over Pope County. They meet monthly to gather resources and plan events like this one. They also assemble all of the grab bags sold at the senior parties, Waterama and the Pope County Fair. Funds generated from these sales go towards future events and, of course, making more grab bags. If you would like to join this volunteer group, please call me at 320-634-7837.
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Medicare changes! As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), starting Jan. 1, 2023, the Medicare annual and general enrollment periods will align. When people enroll in Medicare, their coverage will begin the next month. Before 2023, depending on when people had enrolled, the Medicare benefits could be delayed for several months. Now, when you enroll in Medicare during the last three months of your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), your coverage will start on the first of the following month. In addition, when you enroll in Medicare during the General Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 – March 31), your coverage will start on the first of the following month. There are also new Medicare Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) being added in 2023 for people who did not enroll in Medicare when they were first eligible.
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It is currently Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). Since Medicare plans can change significantly, it is a good idea to review your current coverage and plan options for the coming year. You should also read every piece of mail you get from Medicare, Social Security and your current plan. Annual changes could affect your Part D drug plan, Medicare Advantage Plans and Cost Plans.
For more information, or if you would like to compare your current plan to other available plans, please call me to set up an appointment. 320-634-7837. Please remember, when considering a change; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
