Have you made your health care coverage choices for 2019? If so, great! If not, now is the time, as Medicare’s open enrollment ends this Friday, December 7.
Each year this open enrollment period, also known as the Annual Election Period (AEP) is from October 15 – December 7. It’s a time where you can review your current health and prescription drug plan, review any cost and benefit changes for 2019, compare it to other options that may better suit your needs (including returning to Original Medicare), and make a change. Any changes must be made before midnight on Dec 7 and are effective Jan 1.
Note: if you, or someone you know has been affected by the California wildfires, see our press release and blog for information on a Special Enrollment Period and other protective measures for affected beneficiaries.
Some people confuse Medicare’s open enrollment with the open enrollment for Health exchanges or Marketplaces, like Covered California. Their open enrollment ends just a week later on December 15.
To learn more about Medicare’s open enrollment and your options, see our webpage on the AEP. Also, if you’ve come across any scams or marketing misconduct, call our California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) to report it at 1-855-613-7080. See our 1-page novella in English and Spanish on marketing misconduct, with tips on how to spot it and protect yourself.
