Getting Ready for Medicare's Open Enrollment Period
Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period starts October 15th and runs until December 7th. During this period, all Medicare beneficiaries can change their health or drug coverage. Changes made during this period start January 1, 2023.
Medicare & You 2023 Handbooks are being mailed to beneficiaries now. People already enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan should receive information from their current plan by September 30th detailing any changes to the plan’s coverage or costs in 2023. If a Medicare plan will not continue in 2023, enrollees should receive notice in early October that their plan is ending December 31st.
Beginning October 1, 2022, insurance companies are allowed to start marketing their 2023 plans and Medicare’s website, www.medicare.gov, will show 2023 plan information. Activities and materials by Medicare companies as well as agents or brokers who enroll people into Medicare plans are subject to communications and marketing guidelines which can be found here. PHLP will include information about 2023 Medicare plan offerings in our next newsletter.
Medicare beneficiaries are encouraged to create a Medicare account on www.medicare.gov so they can see personalized information about their current health and drug coverage and Extra Help status. Having an account set up will also allow people to save their drug lists and pharmacies when reviewing their plan options. People who have a Medicare account are also able to print an official copy of their Medicare card should they need one.
PA MEDI helps Medicare beneficiaries review plan choices
Everyone on Medicare should review how their current plan is changing and compare the options available to them for coverage in 2023 to decide whether they should stay with their current plan or switch to a new plan for next year. The Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) program can help people compare plan choices. PA MEDI staff and volunteers offer free, unbiased counseling about Medicare health and drug coverage options. Medicare beneficiaries who need help reviewing their plan options for next year are encouraged to call PA MEDI at 1-800-783-7067. People can also click here to see if there are any upcoming PA MEDI events in their area. More information about the PA MEDI program can be found here.
