Insurance commissioner urges Medicare beneficiaries to check their options for 2025

RALEIGH — Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reminds Medicare beneficiaries that it's time to compare and evaluate their current plans and make necessary changes during the annual open enrollment period, according to a press release from the N.C. Department of Insurance.

"What worked for you this year may not be the best plan for you in 2025," Commissioner Causey said. "It is important to take advantage of the Open Enrollment Period by contacting local Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors to save money, improve your coverage or both."

The Open Enrollment Period begins on Oct. 15 and runs for eight weeks to give you enough time to review and make changes to your Medicare coverage. Changes must be made by Dec. 7 to guarantee your coverage will begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the press release.

It is important to contact your local SHIIP counselor before deciding about coverage for 2025. This may help you receive a more affordable and better Medicare health and/or drug plan in your area. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, there may be another plan in your area that covers your health care and/or drugs at a better price, according to the press release.

The commissioner also announced that Medicare beneficiaries impacted by Hurricane Helene have been granted an extended Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Medicare health and prescription drug coverage.

This extended period gives beneficiaries extra time to make changes to their Medicare coverage due to the unforeseen circumstances that accompany a natural disaster.

"Medicare beneficiaries devastated by Helene may be unable to complete their enrollment process by the Dec. 7 deadline," Commissioner Causey said. "This Special Enrollment Period allows people in affected areas the additional time they need to make sure they have the proper Medicare coverage in 2025."

The regular 2025 Medicare Open Enrollment period runs Oct. 15 – Dec.7 with coverage to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. This SEP allows anyone who missed an election period to make changes for the duration of the disaster plus an additional two months following the declared end date of the disaster. Coverage will begin a month after an enrollment is completed.

The SEP is in effect for the 25 North Carolina counties declared disaster areas as a result of Tropical Storm Helene: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.

The extension applies to two sets of residents: Those who live in the disaster zones as well as others outside the 25 counties who assist or are assisted by the storm victims.

SHIIP is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance and offers free, unbiased information about Medicare, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and other health insurance issues. SHIIP counselors can also help people find out if they are eligible for Medicare cost savings programs, according to the press release.

Here are some of the ways to review and compare plans available for 2025:

Get one-on-one help from a local SHIIP office by calling Rutherford County Senior Center at 828-287-6409.

Get one-on-one help from SHIIP by calling 1-855-408-1212, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.

Review the Medicare & You handbook. It was mailed to people with Medicare in September.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Contact your trusted licensed insurance agent.

SHIIP counselors are not licensed insurance agents and they do not sell, endorse or oppose any product, plan or company. If you have questions about your specific plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance agent or the insurance company, according to the press release.

For more information about SHIIP and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, call 1-855-408-1212 or visit www.ncshiip.com.