Medicare Corner
Preparing for Medicare Open Enrollment Period Medicare Open Enrollment Period began on October 15, and will end on December 7. For people with Medi- care Advantage, Open Enrollment will begin again on January 1 and end on March 31. Sometime in September, you may have received an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) document from your current plan provider with information about any upcoming changes to your current plan.
• Office visits Understand what your co-pay amount for visits to primary care physicians and specialists will be. • Inpatient hospital stays Your plan might not have a co-pay for hospital stays, but if it does, that amount may change. • Benefits and costs for medical services: This section highlights any changes to co-pays and coverage for services including emergency care, outpatient surgery, or care in a skilled nursing facility. The Medicare Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov is a good resource for up-to-date plan information. For assistance, contact your local SHIP at 1-800-432-4040. PCOA is your local SHIP. You may reach our certified counselors at (520) 546-2011.
Plan coverage may change every year, so may your healthcare needs. The ANOC helps you decide whether your coverage will continue to meet your healthcare needs, or whether it is time to switch to a new plan. It is advisable to review your coverage every year during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period and compare your current plan to other available plans. The following items are what you need to review: • Monthly Premiums Premiums may increase each year. • Maximum Out of Pocket Costs This is the maximum amount you will pay per covered year. • Provider and Pharmacy Networks Your healthcare plan may notify you if any of your doctors, hospitals, or pharmacies are leaving their network. • Part D Prescription drug coverage There could be a few changes to your Medicare Part D plan. Check their formulary to make sure that your medications are still included.
PCOA is your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) , and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) for Pima County. For assistance with your Medicare questions, email SHIP@pcoa.org or contact us at (520) 546-2011 . This project was 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.
November & December 2025, Never Too Late | Page 7
Pima Council on Aging
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