There’s Still Time to Change Your Medicare Benefits During Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period
Aetna urges Medicare beneficiaries to shop around, compare plans and
select the Medicare plan that best fits their needs
HARTFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is winding down. But it’s not
too late to evaluate your current plan to make sure your 2016 Medicare
plan best meets your needs.
The Medicare AEP lasts until December 7. This is the time for Medicare
beneficiaries, including those 65 and older and those with certain
disabilities, to make changes to their Medicare coverage. It’s also a
great opportunity to take stock of your current health needs, how they
may have changed over the last year, and decide if you need to make
adjustments to get the most out of your plan.
“It may seem like a daunting task to research Medicare plans,” said
Nancy Cocozza, president of Aetna Medicare. “But taking the time to
explore your options will ensure that you will end up with a plan
tailored to your health care needs and budget. It pays to consider your
health conditions, the providers you use and the medication you take,
and do your best to find a plan that fits you.”
According to Avalere Health, a private health care consulting firm, in
2016 the average Medicare Advantage premium will actually decline by one
percent and 81 percent of MA beneficiaries will have a $0 premium
option. In addition, beneficiaries in most states will still have 25 or
more prescription drug plans to choose from in 2016.
“If you have a prescription drug plan, you may find that switching to a
different plan and using a different pharmacy may save you money,” said
Cocozza. “We encourage Medicare beneficiaries to carefully review their
medication needs and compare their options, because they may pay less in
premiums or out-of-pocket costs if they elect certain plans.”
Aetna’s advice for Medicare’s AEP
The Medicare AEP is the time to think about the year ahead and get the
most out of your health benefits. Take a few minutes to ask yourself
these three questions and follow these tips:
Three questions to ask yourself
-
What changes have there been to your health conditions that you will
need to manage or address in the year ahead? What does your current
plan cover? -
What regular medications do you need? Will the costs change if you
switch plans? Do you need more coverage for any new medications? -
Do you have relationships with current providers that you would like
to maintain? Will you be able to do this on a new health plan?
Three tips for getting the most out of Medicare’s AEP
-
List all the benefits your current plan offers and take stock of which
ones you used this year and which ones you didn’t. You may be able to
adjust your benefits based on how your needs have changed. It’s
important to make sure you still have coverage for prescription
medications. -
Check on the preventive services offered by your current health care
plan and the other plans you are considering. Do they provide
additional perks such as discounts on exercise equipment or classes?
If so, take advantage of these services. This can save you money by
keeping you healthy and preventing illness. And it helps you recover
quicker if sickness or injury occurs. -
Know your options. We encourage you to be informed before you change
or add any coverage. There are a number of resources to help you
review your current benefits and consider if other options might work
better for you.
-
Visit http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to
compare your current coverage with all of the options that are
available in your area and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make
a change. -
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24-hours a day, seven days
a week, to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should
call 1-877-486-2048. -
Review the Medicare & You 2016 handbook. It was mailed to
Medicare beneficiaries in September. You can also view it at http://www.medicare.gov. -
Get one-on-one help from a local State Health Insurance Information
Program (SHIP). SHIP information is available by state at http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/directories/National/SHIP/.
Aetna, a market leader in Medicare Advantage plans, designed its 2016
Medicare health and prescription drug plans to provide exceptional value
to Medicare beneficiaries by offering a choice of affordable plans to
help them achieve more healthy days while maximizing their savings.
Aetna Medicare Advantage or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans
are offered in 32 states and Washington D.C. Aetna Prescription Drug
Plans are available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in Aetna 2016 Medicare Advantage plans
during the annual enrollment period, which began October 15, 2015 and
ends December 7, 2015. These enrollments will be effective on January 1,
2016.
Complete plan details about Aetna’s 2016 Medicare offerings are
available at www.aetnamedicare.com
or by calling toll-free 1-888-247-1028 (TTY: 711). Hours are from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time, seven days a week. Complete plan details
about Coventry’s 2016 Medicare offerings are available at http://coventry-medicare.coventryhealthcare.com/
or by calling toll-free 1-877-988-3589 (TTY: 711). Hours
are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time, seven days a week.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits
companies, serving an estimated 46.5 million people with information and
resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health
care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and
consumer-directed health insurance products and related services,
including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and
disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health
care management services, workers’ compensation administrative services
and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s
customers include employer groups, individuals, college students,
part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers,
governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and
expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com
and learn about how
Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews
Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our
SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our
plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a
complete description of benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions
of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by location.
NR_0009_6863 11/2015
Contacts
Media Contact:
Aetna
Kendall Marcocci, 717-540-6746
kmarcocci@aetna.com
