Time to review Medicare prescription coverage

The time for falling leaves, football, and pumpkin spice has come again.

While enjoying all the wonderful things that come with the fall season, don’t let Medicare Open Enrollment pass you by without reviewing your Medicare prescription coverage.

Medicare Open Enrollment is a time to review your current prescription drug coverage to ensure it will still be the best plan for you in 2019. Each year, plans can change your premium, deductible, and drug formulary. For example, your plan may discontinue covering one of your medications despite having covered it the past 3 years. This would leave you paying full cost for the drug for the entire next year. They can also choose to increase your premiums and deductibles. If you do not review your plan, you may be stuck with costs that are not in your monthly budget.

Medicare Open Enrollment is also a time to review your Medicare Advantage Plan Coverage. CBS News states changes in plan structures and a dearth (lack) of insurers in rural areas may leave con-

sumers with fewer choices and more confusion in the upcoming Medicare open enrollment period. Sometimes it works out that your current plan is still the most cost effective for you.

However, it is best practice to complete a review of your prescription coverage every year during Medicare open enrollment. Ark–Tex Area Agency on Aging has a benefits counselor on staff who can help you review your current plan and compare it to others in the area to help you make an informed decision about your 2019 Medicare health and prescription coverage. You can call 1-800-372-4464 to set your FREE, impartial Medicare review for Open Enrollment 2019.

Important Medicare dates:

■ September and October— Review and compare review: Your plan may change. Review any notices from your plan about changes for next year. Compare: Starting in October, use Medicare’s Plan Finder to find a plan that meets your needs.

■ Oct. 15—Open Enrollment begins This is the one time of year when ALL people with Medicare can make changes to their health and prescription drug plans for the next year. Decide: Oct. 15 is the first day you can change your Medicare coverage for next year.

■ Dec. 7—Open Enrollment ends. In most cases, Dec. 7 is the last day you can change your Medicare coverage for next year. The plan has to get your enrollment request (application) by December 7.

■ Jan. 1—Coverage begins. Your new coverage begins January 1, if you switched to a new plan. If you stay with the same plan, any changes to coverage, benefits, or costs for the new year will begin on Jan. 1.

■ Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 14, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare. If you switch to Original Medicare, you’ll have until Feb. 14 to also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.