Deb Galloway, President. Humana
Central and North Florida Medicare
Published 4:26 p.m. ET Nov. 26, 2018 | Updated 4:35 p.m. ET Nov. 26, 2018
The deadline is fast
approaching! The Medicare annual election period, during which people with
Medicare can enroll in a Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plan, ends
Dec. 7.
It’s important to take
this time to evaluate your health care choices. Even if you’re already enrolled
in a plan, your insurance company’s drug formularies, provider networks and
copays may change in 2019. Plus, your health care needs — such as the doctors
you visit or the medications you take — could be different than they were last
year.
Here are some simple
steps to help you decide which kind of Medicare coverage is best for you:
Review your current
Medicare health plan. Look at what you’ve spent on health care in the past
year, including hospital expenses and prescriptions. Evaluating what you spent
in 2018 will help you decide whether your current health plan meets your needs,
both financially and medically.
Know your
options for Medicare coverage:
• Original
Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B): Provides basic coverage for medical
services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health care
settings. Original Medicare doesn’t include coverage for most prescriptions and
includes cost-sharing in the form of deductibles and co-insurance.
• Medicare
Advantage (Medicare Part C): Includes all the coverage offered under
original Medicare and typically also includes prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans may include additional benefits as well, such as
dental, hearing and vision coverage, a nurse advice line and a
fitness program. Medicare Advantage plans are offered through private insurers,
like Humana, and are steadily gaining in popularity: The number of Americans
choosing this option is expected to climb to 36 percent in 2019, up from 33
percent in 2017, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services.
• Medicare
Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D): Offer coverage for
prescription medications. Such a plan can be added to original Medicare, a
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan or to some Medicare Advantage plans that
don’t include prescription drug coverage, some Medicare Cost Plans and
some Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans: Pay most costs
not included under original Medicare, such as deductibles and co-insurance.
These plans don’t have a set provider network and enrollment isn’t limited
to the Medicare annual election period but they are often subject to
underwriting. These plans are also sold by private insurance companies.
Medicare Supplement plans on the market today don’t include prescription drug
coverage.
Comparison
shop. Research a plan’s out-of-pocket costs and its network of
doctors and hospitals. Check to see if your prescriptions are on your plan’s
formulary (list of covered drugs) as these can change each year. Compare
plan benefits, such as dental, vision and hearing benefits; a fitness program;
virtual doctors, and behavioral health coverage.
Ask an
expert. You’re not alone! There are resources if you have questions. If
you prefer to learn more in person, you can attend a seminar in your area or
meet with a licensed sales agent. If you prefer to do your research online, you
can visit websites such
as Medicare.gov and humana.com/medicare to view and compare
plans in your area.
You can also call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven
days a week to speak to someone by phone about 2019 Medicare plan information.
This is the time to
make the best choice for you in the new year! Again, the annual election period
ends Dec. 7, so be sure to make your decision for Medicare coverage that starts
Jan. 1.
Humana is a Medicare
Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and stand-alone prescription
drug plan, with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on
plan renewal.
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