Reminder: Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Earlier This Year
Posted Oct 13 2011 10:26pm
Many Medicare beneficiaries are not aware that open enrollment starts this Saturday, October 15th and runs through December 7th, 2011. Between Medicare enrollment and Medicare supplement information, seniors are feeling overwhelmed. Medicare.gov has done it’s best to educate consumers on the important dates they should know to help them plan.
As of October 1, new 2012 Medicare plan information was updated on Medicare.gov . With this comes important dates all Medicare eligible individuals should know. Medicare open enrollment starts October 15th, which is earlier than normal so many seniors may miss this important date. This is the first date you can change your coverage options for 2012. Towards the end of October a reassignment notice will be going out to those who receive Extra Help. This blue paper will be letting eligible recipients know that because their current Medicare drug plan is changing or leaving the Medicare program, they will be automatically enrolled in a new plan for 2012.
Come early November, social security Part B and Part D income-related adjustment amount notices are going out. If you have a income over a certain amount, you may get this notice from Social Security advising you of the changes to Part B and Part D that may affect your coverage. And of course, one of the most important dates is December 7th where open enrollment ends. This is the very last day that people can join new Medicare plans for 2012. If this date is missed, you will lose the opportunity to have the plan of your choice and some people may lose coverage altogether. So spread the word that open enrollment starts and ends earlier this year so recipients get the coverage they deserve.
Many Medicare beneficiaries are not aware that open enrollment starts this Saturday, October 15th and runs through December 7th, 2011. Between Medicare enrollment and Medicare supplement information, seniors are feeling overwhelmed. Medicare.gov has done it’s best to educate consumers on the important dates they should know to help them plan.
As of October 1, new 2012 Medicare plan information was updated on Medicare.gov . With this comes important dates all Medicare eligible individuals should know. Medicare open enrollment starts October 15th, which is earlier than normal so many seniors may miss this important date. This is the first date you can change your coverage options for 2012. Towards the end of October a reassignment notice will be going out to those who receive Extra Help. This blue paper will be letting eligible recipients know that because their current Medicare drug plan is changing or leaving the Medicare program, they will be automatically enrolled in a new plan for 2012.
Come early November, social security Part B and Part D income-related adjustment amount notices are going out. If you have a income over a certain amount, you may get this notice from Social Security advising you of the changes to Part B and Part D that may affect your coverage. And of course, one of the most important dates is December 7th where open enrollment ends. This is the very last day that people can join new Medicare plans for 2012. If this date is missed, you will lose the opportunity to have the plan of your choice and some people may lose coverage altogether. So spread the word that open enrollment starts and ends earlier this year so recipients get the coverage they deserve.
Written by Sam Tabes
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