Important Medicare Dates & Resources

Medicare has new schedules for making coverage choices. Here’s what you need to know, and if you have questions, some resources for additional information:

October 1-14, 2011: During these two weeks, private insurers announce all benefit and premium information for their Part C Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug Plans for the coming year. This is your opportunity to see what might change with your current coverage and whether other policies might be better for you.

October 15-December 7, 2011: This is the Annual Election Period. It is the time each year you can change or enroll in new part C Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan. If you make a change,new coverage will start January 1.

January 1-February 14, 2012: This is the Annual Disenrollment Period. During this time, you can disenroll from your Part C Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. If you choose to do so, you are allowed to choose a separate Medicare prescription drug plan at the same time. It becomes effective the first of the following month.

February 15-October 14, 2012: Most people cannot change their Medicare coverage during this “Lock-In” period. Exceptions include if you’ve:

Just turned 65
Moved out of your current plan’s service area
Lost your employer health coverage
Entered a nursing home
Involuntarily lost your prescription drug coverage.

Got questions? Here are a few resources:

Medicare at www.medicare.gov

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) Every state offers one-on-one help from trained advisors. Find contact information at: medicare.gov/contacts/organization-search-criteria.aspx or www.shiptalk.org

Alamo Service Connection sponsored by Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG)www.askasc.org or (210)477-3275, 1-800-960-5201

Children of Aging Parents (CAPS) www.caps4caregivers.org

Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) www.medicareadvocacy.org or 1-860-456-7790