Looking to switch your medicare plan? Open enrollment is happening right now – October 15 through December 7, 2020, for 2021 medicare advantage plans and Part D prescription coverage. Here’s what you need to know…
You can now drop / change or add a Medicare Advantage plan
For those who are wishing to keep their Direct Primary Care membership (like Assurance Healthcare & Counseling Center) with their medicare plans, our general recommendation (as of 2020) is to save your money and do not purchase a medicare advantage or supplement plan. Read our general medicare advice for more information on how supplemental plans don’t offer great value. Now is the time you can move away from your Medicare Advantage plan!
In general, a Medicare Advantage plan is going to be too limiting (especially in a place like Yakima, WA) to really care for you in a way that provides great access. The cost may be attractive, but it’s likely that the costs are low because they are limiting access to care in many ways. Most importantly, Assurance Healthcare & Counseling Center will not be able to make referrals for any members who are part of a Medicare Advantage plan, as we are not an ‘in-network’ primary care provider.
You can add or drop Part D now
If you would like to sign up for Part D (prescription coverage) because you haven’t yet, now is the time you may sign up.
Why sign up for Part D when Assurance offers such deep discounts on medications? Great question… while you may never need to use Part D, there may be some point in the future where Medicare will cover a prescription that we aren’t able to get inexpensively. Perhaps the most extreme scenario is with chemotherapy – an expensive treatment that Part D may cover, but Assurance cannot find at a discount. There are very affordable options for Part D – our best resource is Senior Solutions here in Yakima.
Adding or removing Part A or B
Open enrollment for Parts A & B are either of the following:
- Three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, or the three months following your 65th birthday.
- Between January 1st and March 31st each year, in order to be active on July 1st of the same year.
If you delay enrolling into Medicare until after your 65th birthday, you may have to pay an increased premium.
For more information, read Medicare’s official website here.