Medicare enrollment help is now available

Oct. 30--The new year is fast approaching, and with it comes times to review health insurance.

The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan annual election and enrollment period is now through Dec. 7 for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1.

While most Medicare Advantage plans offer online tools to help users find doctors and hospitals in their plan's network, other resources are also available to help with insurance enrollment questions.

Counselors with the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) can help assist beneficiaries review plans during open enrollment periods.

In Duncan, ASCOG Area Agency on Aging, 802 W. Main St., is an Oklahoma MAP Partner Agency. MAP agencies are trained to be counselors in their local areas.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak said there are 28 individual prescription drug plans and, depending on where you live, 30 Medicare Advantage plans available in Oklahoma for 2019.

Open enrollment allows newcomers to find the plan that's right for them or for existing beneficiaries to amend their preferences and get the best insurance possible.

"Even if you're happy with your current plan, it's a good idea to review your options," Doak said. "Not only do the plans change, but your situation may have changed, as well. Our trained MAP counselors can take the guesswork out of the process by providing information about all your options, including Medicare supplemental insurance."

Changes beneficiaries can make during the open enrollment include:

--Switching to an Advantage Plan (Part C) from original Medicare (Part A hospital coverage and Part B outpatient coverage)

--Switching to original Medicare from an Advantage Plan

--Moving from one Advantage Plan to another

--Moving from one prescription drug plan (Part D) to another or purchase one for the first time

These changes go into effect at the start of the new year.

Oklahoma Insurance Department also states, "Beginning in 2019, CMS will bring back the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which will run from Jan. 1 through March 31. During that time, beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to original Medicare and enroll in a prescription drug plan."

However, Jeremy Gaskill, Central Region of Humana regional president, said original Medicare may not cover all prescription drugs.

"Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, or you can sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug Plan separately," Gaskill said. "A licensed agent can look up your medications and tell you what the cost of each drug would be on a plan."

To contact Duncan's ASCOG office, visit ascog.org or call 252-0595 or 800-658-1466.

Consumers can call MAP at 800-763-2828 to ask questions or schedule an appointment to review coverage. MAP partners with other agencies to offer assistance throughout the state. A list of partner agencies is available at oid.ok.gov.

Full information on 2019 Medicare health and prescription drug plans is available at medicare.gov, and for Humana plans at humana.com/Medicare. Residents can call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) (or TTY: 877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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