The Open Enrollment Period ends Dec. 7, 2020, for Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), and it is very important to re-evaluate your Medicare options for 2021 during this period. Each year Medicare plans can change premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and the prescription formulary (list of drugs they cover). In addition, Medicare Advantage Plans (HMOs, PPOs) often add and/or drop primary and specialty physicians, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals.
Your current plan was required to notify you by Sept. 30 of any changes for the coming year. This letter is called the annual notice of coverage (ANOC) — please make sure you review it. If you decide to stay with your current plan, there is no further action required. If you switch your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Plan during the Open Enrollment Period, it will take effect Jan. 1, 2021. (Please note, this enrollment period may not affect you if you have retiree coverage.)
SHINE will maintain the safety of consumers and counselors to assure quality, privacy, and confidentiality is maintained through remote counseling until further notice. All SHINE appointments will be done remotely. There will be no in-person appointments, but we will be scheduling telephonic appointments. As the situation evolves and directives from Medicare are published, SHINE will keep you up to date.
The SHINE Program is working very hard to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are still able to get the assistance needed during Open Enrollment. In addition to the SHINE counselors providing telephonic counseling sessions, the SHINE regional office will be working on virtual presentations to provide the 2021 Medicare information in lieu of the annual in-person presentations.
