INSURANCE

Q: When will you have details on any changes in Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Prescription Plans and Affordable Care plans for 2018? A: If you follow the news, you are probably aware that discussions about Affordable Care Plans, Medicare, Prescription Drug and Advantage Plans are dominating the headlines every day. It is creating a great deal of uncertainty for all of us. Unfortunately, the government’s plans for increases in premiums or changes in coverage for 2018 have not been shared with me or other frontline insurance professionals at this time. We are all in the same boat and will have to wait for more information to come out. As for me, I usually receive detailed updates on Medicare changes for the coming year when information is publicly released, usually a short time before Open Enrollment begins. What I can share with you now are the dates for this year’s Open Enrollment periods. This is the annual period when you can join, drop or switch your coverage for the following year. As of this writing, the dates for Open Enrollment are as follows: Affordable Care Open Enrollment The Open Enrollment period for Affordable Care Plans will be shorter this year than last year. It begins on November 1, 2017 and ends on December 15, 2017. Plans written during this period will become effective January 1, 2018. Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Open Enrollment begins October 15 and ends December 7, with plans becoming effective January 1, 2018. If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, watch your mail for your Annual Notice of Change or ANOC notice that will come from your Insurance provider. It will provide details on any changes in your plan for 2018. You should receive it in September, giving you sufficient time to evaluate your plan’s coverage and look at other options. If you are new to Medicare and want all the most up to date information, I recommend you join one of my classes called Getting Started with Medicare. It is a class covering all the basics. I present this class at colleges, community centers and libraries throughout the area. You’ll find a list of classes on my website at www.mutskoinsurance.com/ seminars with details on class dates, times and registration information. These events are only for educational purposes and no plan specific benefits or details will be discussed.

If I can be of assistance, call me at 440-255-5700 or email me at Lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com. I look forward to serving you. Laura Mutsko Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC 6982 Spinach Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-5700 www.mutskoinsurance.com