Medicare plans - Advising - Griset Medicare Solutions

The best 3 times to review Medicare Plans

Yearly Changes In Your Medicare Coverage Can Cost You, Especially When You’re Not Looking!

Yearly provider and drug formulary changes, coverage reductions, and monthly cost and copay increases can turn a good plan into a mediocre plan. That’s why an annual review to review Medicare plans is essential!

Since we’re independent licensed insurance agents, we can review the new changes in Plan XYZ and tell you if Plan ABC has a better plan with lower out-of-pocket costs. Representing you, we can recommend any plan when it best matches your priorities and needs.

There are three times in the year for a professional review:

Time Frames to Review Medicare Plans

Only about 40% of beneficiaries review their Medicare coverage annually. The big deterrent is it creates confusion, which is completely understandable. It certainly can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Did you know that there is no cost to have an independent licensed insurance agent help you review Medicare plans? Griset Medicare Solutions can help answer questions any time of the year. However, if changes need to be made, there are some time frames to consider:

Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7)

When you have a Medicare Advantage medical or drug plan you will get an “Annual Notice of Change” by October from your plan that details the changes in coverage and costs that will take effect on January 1. This is the time to review Medicare plans. Without a review your current coverages will continue in the next year as described in the Notice. ( Medicare Advantage medical enrollees can switch to Original/Basic Medicare during this period and enroll in a separate drug plan as well.)

Your Birthday Month

In 8 states, including California, a Medicare Supplement plan change can be made shortly after your birthday without the need for medical underwriting. Since, for example, Supplement Plan G benefits are identical across all G Supplement plans, the main reason to review your coverage is to find other Plan G coverage that has a lower premium. If we find premium savings for you, there is a guideline for making that change to a different insurance carrier: your new coverage must be equal to or reduce the coverage you currently have. For example, if you have G plan coverage with carrier “X”, you can move to a G plan with carrier “Y”. Similarly, you can move from G coverage to any other carrier’s plan that has more limited benefits. When you do a Birthday month change to a new Supplement plan the new coverage will be effective the first of the month following your enrollment. (A drug plan that goes with Supplement coverage can be reviewed and changed between October 15 and December 7.)

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 to March 31)

During these 3 months, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan you can disenroll in that plan and return to Original (Basic) Medicare and opt for stand-alone drug coverage as well. Additionally, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan. Any new coverage you choose will take effect the first of the month following the change.