The Annual Enrollment Period will run from October 15 to December 7 2018.
During the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) you can make changes to various aspects of your Medicare coverage.
► You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage (Effective Jan/01/2019).
► You can change your Medicare Part D plan to another company Medicare Part D (Effective Jan/01/2019).
2019 Changes to Medicare
► New Medicare Cards for everyone old and new to Medicare. New Medicare cards started rolling out since April 2018 and little by little everyone who had Medicare is receiving their new Medicare Cards. New Medicare Cards will help fight medical identity theft for people with Medicare.
► Part B premium will likely go up for 2019. The Medicare Trustees Report that was issued in June 2018 projected an estimated standard Part B premium of $135.50 a month for 2019 (see page 204).
► Donut Hole – The spending bill Congress passed in March will close the “donut hole” for brand-name drugs in 2019 and for generic drugs in 2020. The”Donut Hole” pertains to prescription drugs (Medicare Part D) benefit in which enrollees with high prescription costs to pay more for their medicines after they reach a certain level of spending in one year. After a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket spending reaches a second threshold, they enter catastrophic coverage and pay substantially less.
► Low Income Subsidy (LIS)
Low Income Subsidy is for individuals with Medicare that need extra help paying some health care and prescription drug costs.
You may qualify for Low Income Subsidy (LIS) for 2019 if:
• Single Person Yearly Income is less than $18,210 and other resources is less than $14,100
• Married person with no other dependents Yearly Income is less than $24,690 and other resources is less than $28,150
Download the Medicare & You for 2019
Each year, most Medicare receive the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from their existing Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan providers by Sept. 30. Look for important updates to your coverage either by they increase or reduce benefits for 2019. The Annual Open Enrollment will run from October 15 to December 7 2018. During the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) you can do nothing and keep your current plan or change your plan for 2019.
Ideally, open enrollment lets you tailor your Medicare coverage to minimize your total out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Looking at all the options you have for Medicare coverage is a great way to prepare for open enrollment.
Unlike Medicare Advantage, you can join a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at any time. You can join a Medicare Supplement plan even if it’s not your Open Enrollment Period. As you know Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans you have to pay a monthly premium and if you are older than 65 you are subject to be denied coverage based on your health condition. To see Medicare Supplement (Medigap) prices in your area.
We can help you by answering any question you have for 2019 Medicare benefits. Contact us by email at info@armandowinsurance.com
You can also call Medicare at
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.