Medicare: What You Need to Know About Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is the time of year when you can change your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan. Here are a few fast facts you should know.
If you’re thinking about making changes to your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan, now is the time to evaluate your options.
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The 2020 Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2020, for coverage effective in 2021. Unless you have a special circumstance, like moving to an area not covered by your current plan, Open Enrollment is the only time each year to drop or switch your plan coverage.
Now’s the time to switch to a new Medicare plan
Get plan recommendations.
Know Your Options
Make sure you get clear, current, and complete information about the Medicare plans available to you. Aon’s Making Sense of Medicare guide provides a great overview. Here are the types of plans:
- Medicare Advantage Plans are a good value if you’re looking for all-in-one medical and drug coverage with low or zero monthly premiums. In most cases you’ll have no deductibles, and you’ll have a copay instead of coinsurance for most services. Medicare Advantage plans have an out-of-pocket maximum each year to help minimize your financial risk. Be sure to check the network to see if your doctors participate.
- Medicare Supplement Plans (also known as Medigap) help fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Supplement Plan, you can change plans anytime—you don’t have to wait until Open Enrollment. With this option, most people buy two separate plans—one for medical and one for prescription drugs—each with its own premium. A Medicare Supplement policy can help pay some of the costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copays, coinsurance, and deductibles. You may choose any provider that accepts Medicare.
- Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are usually bought in addition to a Medicare Supplement Plan and can protect you from high drug costs. Some plans have pharmacy networks that offer discounted prices. Plans may also offer a mail-order pharmacy benefit.
- Vision and Dental Plans are also available, if your plan doesn’t have coverage.
Get Help
Through the Alumni Benefits Program, you can access Aon’s plan recommendation tool to help you choose the right Medicare plan for your needs. This easy-to-use online tool gives you plan recommendations based on information you provide about your doctors, prescriptions, health needs, and location.
You can also consult with licensed advisors* who offer unbiased guidance based on your personal needs, so you can make informed decisions. They can also help you enroll in the plan of your choice.1
The benefits of working with Aon extend through the future as your coverage needs change. You can take advantage of advisory services, online resources, webinars, and future enrollment assistance—at no cost to you.
*Licensed insurance advisors
1During the Open Enrollment Period, you may experience longer wait periods during peak hours, so it’s important to start your planning early. You may need to schedule an appointment or request a call back.
Aon Retiree Health Exchange is available through Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions, a third-party marketing organization (TMO), retained to promote or sell a plan sponsor’s Medicare products on the plan sponsor’s behalf who holds the contract with the federal government. Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc. is contracted to represent insurance plans in your state. California Agency License Number: OE97576, Arkansas Agency License Number: 100102657, DBA in North Dakota: Aon Hewitt Health Insurance Agency Solutions, Inc., Fictitious Name in New York: Aon Hewitt Health Insurance Agency Solutions. By contacting us, you agree to have a licensed insurance agent contact you through email, mail or phone to discuss Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug, Medicare Supplement (also known as Medigap) plans and dental or vision insurance. Agreeing to participate does not obligate you to enroll in a plan, affect your current or future Medicare enrollment status or automatically enroll you in a Medicare plan.
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