Goodbye Medicare Disenrollment Period and Hello 2019 Medicare Open Enrollment Period

LENOIR, NC (December 20, 2018) — Medicare Advantage plans or Medicare Part C are private health plans that give Medicare beneficiaries another option for their additional Medicare coverage.  If you change your mind and decide you want to do something different, there is a special disenrollment period when you have a chance to change your plan.

The 2019 Medicare Open Enrollment Period (MOEP) will be from January 1st to March 31st.   This replaces the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period no longer exists for 2019.

During the 2019 Medicare Open Enrollment Period you can:  1) switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or 2) disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan and return to Traditional Medicare with or without a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) also known as Part D.

The new Medicare Open Enrollment Period will not allow changes from one PDP to another.  If you make a change, it won’t start immediately but rather on the 1st day of the month following the date the new enrollment request was received.

If you miss the MOEP, you will need to wait until the next AEP (Annual Enrollment Period from Oct 15th-Dec 7th) to make a change unless you qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP.)

Special Enrollment Period qualifications consist of 1) having Medicare and Medicaid, 2) must reside in a rehabilitation hospital, nursing home or skilled nursing facility, 3) qualify for LIS (low income subsidy, Extra Help program), or 4) moved out of your plan’s service area.  You may only use the same SEP once per year.

If you do decide to drop your Medicare Advantage plan to return to Original Medicare, you can also apply for a Medicare Supplement policy and/or a PDP.  Also known as Medigap, Medicare Supplement plans help cover the deductibles and coinsurance payments not covered by Original Medicare.  Traditionally, Medicare Beneficiaries cannot have both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan at the same time.

Bush and Associates has been offering Medicare products in Caldwell County and the Unifour area for more than 35 years.  Call (828) 754-2601, email quotes@bushandassociates.net or stop by the office at 916 Wilkesboro Blvd in Lenoir to find out more information.

~Laura Sedlacek is an insurance agent for Bush and Associates in Lenoir.  Find out more on their website:  http://mynchealthplan.com by calling (828) 754-2601 or emailing quotes@bushandassociates.net   Their office is located at 916 Wilkesboro Blvd. in Lenoir.