If you are enrolled in Medicare, now is the time to review your plan and possibly make changes.

Open enrollment started today and runs through December 7th.

This is when eligible adults can switch from traditional Medicare to a private advantage plan.

Change from one advantage plan to another, or join or change a part D prescription drug plan.

Here to help us navigate the options is Angela Zeke, health and benefits unit manager with Legal aid of the bluegrass.

Angela, thanks for coming in.

Thank you.

I know one of the things people look at the most probably is those advantage plans.

More than half of the Medicare enrollees have that.

Yes.

And people are being forced to make some changes this year because some of those plans are disappearing.

Right?

That is right.

We have several plans that are terminating their contract with Medicare in Kentucky.

We have a number of new plans.

So this opportunity is the time to look at what is available.

Compare current coverage to those new options and make a change.

Yeah.

And those advantage C plans are the ones that include vision and health and hearing those kind of things.

That's why they're popular.

Right.

That's right.

They are inclusive.

So it covers both the medical prescription drug and does offer some additional benefits that Medicare original Medicare doesn't cover.

Usually most of those about 80% of Medicare Advantage plans do not charge a monthly premium.

Now, individuals still pay their part B premium, which is $202.90 a month, but they don't have an additional monthly premium.

So those are enticing because they get the coverage that they need, plus some, and they don't have to pay an extra premium for them.

But it doesn't always mean it's the best coverage for them.

There are some obstacles that are created under Medicare Advantage plans.

You know, they are difficult to travel with.

And most situations, we have had complaints about skilled nursing facility care not getting covered as it would original Medicare.

So there are things that people need to consider before they go and enroll into a plan.

Is the fact that some of those plans are disappearing, causing some panic?

Oh, yes.

So, you know, we have seen so far this year as we've been comparing options for our clients, increased premiums, increased deductibles, increased co-pays.

So the plans are passing more on to the beneficiary to cover.

But they are receiving the beneficiaries are receiving their notices that their plans are terminating and some plans have other or some companies offer multiple plans.

And so they can be crosswalks, which means they can be enrolled into another plan with that same company.

It doesn't mean it's the best plan for them, but that is offering them some protection.

But if you're enrolled into a silver script standalone drug plan, then there is no crosswalk.

If you don't do something by December 7th, you will have no coverage January 1st.

Why are so many plans to train?

I assume it's profit margins.

Yes, it's.

What is that?

They are taking a look.

The companies are taking a look at at what they are able to profit and what they're paying out, of course, for beneficiary care.

And and we understand that they are, you know, deciding to limit their market a little bit.

You started to mention cost.

And that's the biggest thing on people's minds.

Of course, part A, which is hospitalization, usually comes with no cost, although there's a deductible that plan B which covers outpatient services, doctors visits, the the amount right now is about $202 a month.

Right.

What are we hearing about what it might be in 2027?

Yeah.

So the trustees reports are indicating that there will be an increase.

The trustees report, social Security trustees report indicates a cost of living adjustment.

And so when there is a cost of living adjustment to Social Security checks, that does more times than not mean a part B the premium increase.

So we're looking at going from 202 90 to about 209 50.

So $209.50.

And we are anticipating an increase in the part, a deductible by about $60 a year.

And I'm sorry benefit period.

And then we're going to see most likely an increase in the part B deductible as well.

Yeah.

Everyone who's enrolled, they get an annual notice of change that everyone should have received that by now right?

Yes.

Yes, they should have received that by October 1st.

The Annual Notice of Change discusses the change within their prescription drug plan or their Medicare Advantage plan.

Those are difficult documents to read, but if you need to compare your coverage, you can always call one 800 Medicare.

You can call your local ship program, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and our ships can help with those comparisons at no cost to the beneficiary.

Yeah, this is something you can't ignore.

We need to emphasize that, especially if you're just now becoming available for to enroll.

Yes, there can be penalties if you don't do it in the right time frame.

That's exactly right.

So we have a late enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B and part D. So if you don't accept the medical coverage or the prescription drug coverage when you become eligible, it can be quite pricey for you when you do decide to enroll.

Part D again we talked about it.

The drug plan.

That's another one that that people will look at very closely.

And that's the one where you may be seeing some sticker shock.

Oh, that's exactly right.

So we are losing two plans in Kentucky next year.

We're losing a health spring plan and a silver script plan.

But of the eight plans that we have remaining four of them will cost over $100 a month, one of which is over $200.

So it is very important to compare this insurance, make sure that the plan is paying for the medication, and then take a look at the premium.

It's not a good plan if it doesn't cover all the medications.

Yeah, well, just one final thought.

What's the biggest thing people should be considering right now as we're in this open enrollment period?

Compare.

Compare, compare.

Don't let this period of time pass you by.

Don't answer the phone if you don't know the the phone number.

We are getting complaints, marketing complaints, marketing violations with cold calling and and and door to door sales.

Always go to people you trust and who are local to answer your questions.

All right.

And again the enrollment period runs through December 7th.

Angela.

Zeke, thanks for coming in today.

Thank you.

A recent kitty call in for him took an in-depth look into Medicare options and open enrollment.

You can watch that hour long discussion on wkyt.org.