Medicare insurance plans in Southeastern Connecticut

11/04/2024

Better understand when to change a Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan that happens each Fall.

Medicare’s official term is:
+ Enrollment period for the limited times when an individual can sign up for Part A & Part B

+ Election period, for most situations when an individual can sign up for a Medicare Advantage or a Prescription Drug Plan to work with Part A & Part B.

The official term for the October 1 to December 7 period we are currently in is the Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP). Applications for a plan can only be submitted beginning October 15.

However, various terms are used for this time. For example, when an individual goes to Medicare.gov to review plans, they will see it is called Open Enrollment. Companies that market plans during this time often advertise Annual Enrollment.

I am pleased to share some information to eliminate confusion and better understand what an individual gains by buying one of the two options that work with Medicare’s Part A & Part B.
+ First - a Medicare Advantage plan. Details on how they work and the times to sign up are on this website:
https://medicareplanssect.com/medicare-advantage-plans

+ Second – a Medicare Supplement plan. Details on how they work and signing up are on this website:
https://medicareplanssect.com/medicare-supplements

Note: This site also has some details about Prescription Drug Plans, which individuals using a Supplement usually buy.

Call or text John at (860) 662-3000 if any questions.

Call today: Let's meet to discuss MediCare and what you gain with a N L Cty Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement plan!

09/30/2024

Beware of MediCare TV ads saying — Call for Extra Benefits!

MediCare’s annual time to make a change to your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan starts October 1st. This special time is officially the Annual Election Period. (AEP)

Changes can only be sent to the insurance company from Oct 15 to Dec 7 for coverage effective January 1, 2025.

You will be seeing lots of ads on TV channels here in Southeastern CT and many are from Medicare Marketing organizations not an actual insurance plan company.

Observing these ads as a Medicare insurance professional, I believe some are not following MediCare advertising rules and are close to being deceptive.

For example:
● Ads cannot mention benefits and imply anyone can call and sign up, when these benefits are only available to individuals who also have MedicAid.

● Ads about plans with money back into SS are often "not available" to most people!

● Ads that mention specific benefits are to include the name of the company offering them.

09/04/2024

Big changes in Medicare Prescription plans

Many individuals here in SE CT may have to change their prescription coverage during this Fall's Annual Election Period. Changes can start Oct 15 and be made NLT Dec 7

Why? Regulations have lowered, starting Jan 1st, the maximum a person will spend to $2,000. This means many plans will place prescriptions in a higher Tier (cost more). I also sense the most common thing individuals will see is a significant increase in the Plan's monthly cost!

09/22/2023

A look (guess) at Medicare costs in 2024.

In previous years Medicare's costs, such as the Part B deductible and the monthly cost of Part B, for the next year were released in early November.

Last year as a big change - the costs for 2023 were published in late September! Looks like it will happen again.

One insight I want to share - the monthly cost of Medicare Part B will be up about $10.

07/08/2023

Beware of MediCare TV ads saying — Call Now & Call for Extra Benefits!

Most ads are from a Medicare Marketing organization and are close to being deceptive because:
● Individuals wilh MediCare can not sign up for a Medicare Advantage or a Prescription Drug Plan whenever they want!

● Thus, Medicare marketing rules state ads can not say anyone with Medicare can call. Ads are to be focused such as call if you are turning 65 or have a Special Enrollment Period.

● The money back into SS benefit, mentioned in TV ads with celebrity spokesmen, is "not available" to most people * !
- > * Only individuals on MediCare and whose income makes them also eligible for MedicAid can qualify for a Special Needs Plan with the benefits mentioned! ! .

When can individuals?
Sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B: Social Security is responsible for and sets Medicare’s sign up rules.

Enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan or a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP): CMS, which manages MediCare, sets the periods when Individuals can enroll in or make a change in their plan. The basic times are:
- > When turn 65 — Can sign up in either of the three months before age 65, the month when, and in any of the three months after ! ! !
- > During the Annual Election Period from Oct 15 to Dec 7 each year
- > When leaving an employer medical plan after 65 — individuals are eligible for a Specail Enrollment Period.

12/16/2022

Part of the effective date rules, when an individual signs up for Medicare, are changing beginning Jan 1, 2023:

+ This first rule stays the same: An individual turning 65 who decides to sign up during either of the 3 months before 65 will have Part A and Part B the first day of the month when 65. The seven month sign up times around when a person turns 65 is their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) The month when 65 is considered their “eligible” month.

+ The rule for signing up during eligible month is also the same. Part A is the first of their eligible month and Part B will be the first of the following month.

Note: The following rules for when Part B is effective where changed so they will be the same as when an individual enrolls in most employer medical benefit plans.

+ Part B for an individual who signs up the second or third month after 65 will be the first of the month after they apply. Part A stays the first of their eligible month.

Another time when a person can sign up for Medicare is the General Enrollment Period (GEP). It’s for someone who did not sign up in their IEP and did not have a Special Enrollment Period such as leaving an employer medical plan. The GEP allows an individual to sign up in Jan, Feb, or Mar of each year. Currently Part B would not be effective until July 1st.
+ The new rule says Part B will be effective the first of the month after they apply.

The Social Security system, responsible to establish Medicare’s effective dates, has not yet established all the details on when Part A will be effective.