Countdown to Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Should Know
Do you have Medicare? Are you a caregiver for someone who has Medicare?
Maybe your health-care needs are evolving. Maybe your life circumstances have changed. Or maybe you just need to find out how Medicare has changed, either to your benefit or disadvantage. The bottom line: you may need to change Medicare plans in order to receive the coverage that best fits your health requirements and your budget.
Open enrollment is your time to review your health or drug coverage and decide if you want to make changes. Comparing your options could help you find even better coverage, and/or save money.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
Medicare has specific enrollment periods during which you can make changes to your prescription drug plans or health plans for coverage beginning January 1, 2024. The most common enrollment periods include:
- The Initial Enrollment Period (when you first become eligible for Medicare at age 65)
- The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7 each year)
- The Special Enrollment Periods (triggered by specific life events)
Remember that you cannot change your Medicare plans whenever or as often as you want, so it’s important to pay attention to the designated enrollment periods to make any necessary adjustments to your coverage.
Make Time Every Year to Review Your Benefits
Every year during Medicare’s annual open enrollment, between October 15 and December 7, it’s important to set aside time to review your benefits. By September 30th, each Medicare beneficiary receives an Annual Notice of Coverage which includes important information regarding Medicare costs and benefits. It’s up to YOU to be proactive and understand your needs, as well as the ins and outs of your health insurance plan.
Overwhelmed? Our SHINE Counselors can help!
Not sure where to start? Set a reminder to make an appointment with a trained (SHINE) Counselor. Once open enrollment officially begins in October, appointments with our counselors will be in high demand. While we try to accommodate everyone to the best of our ability, counselors’ availability and appointments are not unlimited.
Our counselors:
- Help Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers navigate the complex health insurance system and explain how it works in everyday language.
- Compare costs and benefits of options and help enroll in a health insurance program that best fits the beneficiary’s needs.
- Help people with limited resources enroll in programs that help pay health insurance costs.
SHINE appointments are free, confidential and available throughout the state at local Councils on Aging, senior centers, elder service agencies, hospitals and other community-based agencies.
Did you know? In fiscal year 2024, Barnstable County’s SHINE Counselors saved residents of the Cape and Islands 1.4 million dollars in out-of-pocket insurance costs?
Make an appointment today!
Contact the Barnstable County Regional SHINE office:
SHINE@capecod.gov
508-375-6762
508-362-5885 TTY
Contact the Massachusetts SHINE office:
SHINE@state.ma.us
1-800-AGE-INFO (1-800-243-4636) and option 3
Contact your local site:
SHINE Cape & Islands Brochure
Be Sure to Check Back Frequently for Updates!
Over the next few months, we’ll be offering up useful information and tips here on our website and social media to help you stay on top of changes to Medicare in 2025. Be sure to bookmark Department of Human Services Home Page!
