Open Enrollment Tips for Medicare Advantage

El Paso TX

13 November, 2020

3:14 PM

Description

EL PASO - November 13, 2020 - It’s time again for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. Every year, from October 15 through December 7, people who are eligible for Medicare can shop for a new health insurance plan. Or, they can choose to keep their existing plan. Annual enrollment period allows you to review your coverage and be sure you’re getting the benefits you need. There are several reasons why this is important: Plan benefits and coverages can change from year to year.Your doctors may change which plans they’ll accept.If you’ve moved, coverage options may differ based on where you live.Your healthcare needs may have changed. Carefully reviewing your options can help prevent unexpected costs. You might even be able to improve your coverage, lower your costs, or both. Medicare Advantage optionsMedicare Advantage plans are managed by private insurance companies, but Medicare pays them for your coverage. With Medicare Advantage, you can choose to get care through a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): A PPO allows you to see doctors inside or outside the plan’s provider network. If you choose out-of-network providers, though, you receive less coverage - meaning you will pay more. An HMO requires you to stay within your plan’s network of providers except in certain situations. What’s unique about Medicare Advantage plans is that many cover additional benefits like vision care, dental care, transportation services, hearing aids, or wellness programs. Many also cover extra preventive health screenings. How to choose the right planA lot of factors go into deciding the best health plan for each person. But here are a few good questions to start with, especially if you’re considering a Medicare Advantage plan: Will my doctors accept the plan? Are they in-network? Are my preferred hospitals and other facilities included in the network?Are my medications covered under the plan? What preventive health screenings are covered under the plan? Is coverage available for vision, dental, transportation, hearing aids, or wellness programs?What is the participating insurance company’s Star Rating?What are my total costs? (Look at the premium or monthly cost, as well as copays and deductibles on doctor and hospital visits and prescription drugs. Check the costs to visit specialists and out-of-network providers, too.) And if you like to travel, find out what your coverage is when outside your local area or state. Where to turn for more informationCountless resources can help you compare plans from the comfort and safety of your home. Here are just a few: Medicare’s medicare.gov website includes the “Medicare and You” handbook, which can help you understand the differences between traditional Medicare coverage and Medicare Advantage coverage. Many local and state agencies, including the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, provide free, objective Medicare plan guidance.  Plan websites or Medicare’s Plan Finder at Medicare.gov offer ways to compare plan options. About El Paso Integral Care (EPIC) IPAEl Paso Integral Care (EPIC) is the only locally owned Independent Physician Association (IPA) in El Paso. With the broadest geographic coverage in El Paso, EPIC brings together 20 primary care doctors and access to dozens of specialists to provide evidence-based medicine to seniors in the El Paso region. EPIC emphasizes preventive care, data sharing and population health management to provide quality healthcare with the end goal of improving patient health and lives. EPIC is actively working to open doors to more patients and health plan partners as part of their growth initiative, to learn more about EPIC’s commitment to improving health outcomes, visit: https://www.epicdoctors.com/index.html