These are stressful and confusing times for everyone, but they may be more so, if you are about to become Medicare eligible. Trying to figure out to what to do about a Medicare Supplement plan, Medicare Advantage Plan, or Part D Prescription Drug Plan is tough enough when life is normal. Adding a global pandemic to the mix may make it seem impossible. It doesn’t have to be. If anything, being isolated may give you more time to do research and weigh your options.
Things haven’t really changed much during this time. One thing that has changed, is that you may not be able to meet face-to-face with an agent to discuss your Medicare options and do an enrollment. That doesn’t mean you are stuck talking to someone in a cubicle across the country or the world. It just may mean you have to talk to your local agent by phone or correspond by email. You can still hear about your choices and do your enrollment with an agent you trust.
What hasn’t changed is the time allotted to you by Medicare to make your decision. If you are new to Medicare, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan as early as three months prior to your Medicare effective date. Your can also make a decision the month your Medicare begins or in the three moths that follow. So you have a good amount of time, but you have to act during that window.
Another thing that remains the same are your options. Insurance companies are not rushing around and making changes to their plans right now. They aren’t allowed to by CMS. Your options are the same as they would have been without the Coronavirus pandemic. There’s no reason to be unsure about what choices you have.
We still encourage you to find a local agent who can get to know you, help you evaluate your choices, and knows the provider landscape in your area. You can be informed and confident about your decision, even in this crazy time.