Last month Ruth and I talked about the Annual Election Period (AEP), what you could do during the Annual Election Period and when it was.
Whether it’s due to the large amount of mail you may receive, phone calls you get trying to enroll you in a plan, or TV ads, what you can do and when you can do it may be still be confusing. The AEP is over. Unless there is another enrollment period you qualify for, the plan you have or just changed to is the prescription or Medicare Advantage plan you’re going to have in 2023. Does that apply to your Medicare Supplement and dental or dental/vision plan? NO! Here’s the part that can get confusing. Every product or plan has a different enrollment time. When you turn 65 and have enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, you can enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. There are no medical questions. Your application will be accepted regardless of the medications you take or the medical conditions you have. This is the only time you can enroll without answering medical questions; your application is guaranteed to be accepted. The exception (got to have an exception, right?) is if you are under 65 and on Social Security disability. Once you have been on Social Security disability for about 24 months, you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. This makes you eligible for Medicare Supplement plan B – only plan B. When you turn 65 you have another enrollment period. During this enrollment period, you may enroll in any plan that is available based on your Medicare Part A effective date. Your application is guaranteed to be accepted regardless of the medical condition that caused your disability. Later if you decide you want a different Medicare Supplement plan or if the premium increases and you’d like to look for a plan with lower premiums, you will have to answer medical questions. Based on your answers and medical history, your application may be accepted or denied. When you enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan, make certain it will meet your lifelong needs. Medicare prescription plans and Medicare Advantage plans may be reviewed and changed every year during the Annual Election Period. Medicare Supplement plans may not ever be changed. Now let’s talk about dental and dental/vision plans. You can enroll in a dental or dental/vision plan or change your dental or dental/vision plan any time – 12 months out of the year! There is no enrollment period for dental or dental/vision plans. What an extreme, right? You may have thought your health, dental or dental/vision insurance was going to be simple when you turned 65, but not so. You need to stay on your toes. If you want to scratch your head or have any questions, call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk?” I’m happy to guide you through the maze.
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AuthorCaroline Beauchamp specializes in personalized life and health insurance solutions. Archives
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