Departments Elders

Medicare Open Enrollment

Submitted by Gail Kennedy

Medicare’s Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7, 2020. Medicare allows health and drug plans to make changes regarding their cost and coverage and allows for those plans to update their networks of providers and pharmacies.

During Open Enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries can change their Medicare health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs. Any applicable changes will have an effective date of January 1, 2021.

What You Can Do

  • Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare
  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage
  • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage
  • Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
  • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
  • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely

Individuals enrolled in a health or prescription drug plan should review materials their plan sends such as the ‘Evidence of Coverage’ (EOC) and ‘Annual Notice of Change’ (ANOC). If the individual believes their current plan will still be offered and will meet their needs for the upcoming year they don’t need to change their health or prescription plan.

For further information and assistance regarding your Medicare coverage, please contact Gail Kennedy, Seneca Nation AOA HIICAP Counselor at 716-945-8991.