Medicare Corner
Medicare Open Enrollment
Replacing Your Medicare Card
Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another Medicare drug plan. Drop your Medicare drug coverage completely. (Changes will take effect on January 1.) General Enrollment Period/MA Open Enrollment – January 1 to March 31 You can only make one change during this period. Changes will take effect on the first of the month after the plan gets your request. If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan during your I nitial Enrollment Period , change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a Medicare drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). Disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. If you choose to do so, you’ll be able to join a Medicare drug plan. You can’t... Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Join a Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare. Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another if you’re in Original Medicare.
Plans change from year to year just as our medical needs may change. It is important that you review your plan each year to make sure that you are getting the best possible coverage for your health needs. You can make changes to your Medicare plan or Medicare drug coverage for the following year. Open Enrollment and General Enrollment/Medicare Advantage (MA) Open Enrollment are the best times for reviewing your current plan. Open Enrollment Period – October 15 to December 7 During this period, you can make as many changes as you need to. Your final changes, made by December 7, will take effect on January 1. Here are the changes that you can make during this period: Change from Original Medicare (with or without a Medicare drug plan) to a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare (with or without a Medicare drug plan). Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan. Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage. Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage. Join a Medicare drug plan.
These projects are supported in part by grant number 90MPPG0022, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy. decision-making and/or reviewing your current plan, contact the PCOA Medicare department at (520) 546-2011 . If you need to replace a damaged or lost Medicare card, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account at www. Medicare.gov to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call 1(800) MEDICARE (1(800) 633-4227) and ask for a replacement card to be sent in the mail. TTY users can call 1(877) 486- 2048. If you get Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, you can call 1(877) 772- 5772 to get a replacement card. TTY users can call 1(312) 751-4701. Pima Council on Aging offers free and unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling. We do not sell nor endorse insurance plans. For assistance with
September/October 2023, Never Too Late | Page 9
Pima Council on Aging
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