Medicare Open Enrollment: Updated 2019 Materials and New Resources

Medicare open enrollment began on October 15, 2018 and continued until December 7, 2018. During the enrollment period you can make the switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage (or vice versa), switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another. You can also enroll in a Medicare Part D plan if you didn’t when you were first eligible for Medicare, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

Today we wanted to provide updated materials from Triage Cancer to help you with open enrollment, as well as share new resources you might find helpful!

We updated our Medicare Quick Guide for 2019 and we encourage you to read over these helpful facts and tips! You can also watch our webinar replay, Medicare: An In-Depth Look.

What other resources can help you make informed decisions?

Medicare’s Out of Pocket Cost Estimator can show you how the coverage choices you make affect your personal costs each year.

With this new tool all you need to do is enter your zip code, select an original Medicare plan option and then select a Medicare Advantage option to compare it to!

Your actual out-of-pocket costs depend on the exact Medicare coverage you have, your health care needs, your prescriptions, and how often you need health care services. You can also watch this video for an in-depth explanation of this new tool!

Do you live in an area affected by the recent wildfires in California?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare beneficiaries affected by wildfires. The SEP will run through March 31, 2019, and allows beneficiaries to switch, disenroll from or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D plan. The SEP is available to beneficiaries living in one of the affected areas and beneficiaries living elsewhere who rely on individuals in the affected area for assistance in making enrollment decisions. Read the fact sheet from Justice in Aging on this and other ways CMS is trying to help those affected.