The following op-ed is written by Kathie Mancini, Humana Medicare President for Northern Kentucky
Buyer’s remorse may not matter much when you aren’t happy with a new toothpaste or dinner recipe, but when it comes to medical care, the wrong decision could impact your health and your wallet.
Medicare-eligible individuals who have realized their current plan doesn’t meet their health needs may not have to wait until the Annual Election Period, which begins Oct. 15, to make a change.
Understanding the options you have during the Special Enrollment Periods for plans with certain quality ratings or after specific life events could mean beneficial changes to your care options sooner than you think. For the 928,000 Medicare eligible individuals in Kentucky who need to predict their healthcare needs, this is especially important to know.
Special Enrollment Periods are an option under certain circumstances outside the standard enrollment timeframe:
· Five-star Medicare Advantage plans or Medicare prescription drug plans. A five-star rating is the highest possible rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is determined by input from member-satisfaction surveys, health plans and health care providers. You can switch to these plans one time per year if they are available in your area.
· New residence. If you recently moved to a new address that isn’t in your current plan’s service area, there may be new plan options in your new location. Also, if you relocated from a long-term care facility, you may be eligible to change your plan mid-year.
· Lost current coverage. If you are no longer eligible for Medicaid, you left coverage from your employer, or your prescription drug coverage is no longer considered “credible,” you may be eligible to switch to a new plan.
It’s possible the plan you selected last year may not be ideal for your current health needs or provide supplemental plan benefits, such as transportation services to and from doctors’ appointments. If that’s the case, knowing your options could help you determine if it is possible to change to a different Medicare Advantage plan mid-year to better meet your needs.
Making an informed choice on a health plan is critical since health needs can change quickly and unexpectedly.
Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods and CMS Star Ratings at www.medicare.gov. You can also ask a licensed sales agent which five-star plans are available in Kentucky.