Medicare open enrollment: Remember the four C’s

By Michael E. Festa

For those with Medicare, autumn means more than enjoying the fall foliage. It is also time for Medicare open enrollment, which officially begins on Oct. 15 and runs through Dee. 7. This is the one chance the nearly one million Medicare beneficiaries in Massachusetts have to review and make changes to their coverage for the year ahead.

During open enrollment, you may:

•Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan;

•Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another;

•Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare; or

•Join a Medicare Prescription Drug plan, change to a new one, or drop your coverage.

Even if you are satisfied with your current coverage, it’s always a good idea to review your plan to make sure you are getting the most out of your Medicare. Not sure how to get started? Just follow the four C’s: coverage, cost, convenience and customer satisfaction.

Coverage: Comparing Medicare plans can be simple. The official Medicare website has a tool at www.Medicare.gov/find-a-plan that helps you find and compare all available plans in your area. When reviewing plans, focus on the benefits, such as the coverage offered while you are in the prescription drug doughnut hole, the period during which you pay a higher share of your drug costs. Also, find out which drugs are covered.

If you need help comparing coverage options, call your local senior center or council on aging to make an appointment with a SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) counselor.

Cost: From year to year, your Medicare plan costs may change. During open enrollment, you should compare expenses, including premiums, deductibles, drug costs and out-of-pocket maximums.

Convenience: When it comes to doctor’s appointments and filling prescriptions, convenience matters. When reviewing Medicare plans, find out if you will have access to your current doctor — or doctors close by. And, check that your local pharmacy accepts the plan, and that the plan provides online prescription-filling or mail-order options.

Customer service: Have you ever wondered how your Medicare plan stacks up against others? When you are comparing plans, take note of Medicare’s star-rating system. Medicare health and prescription drug plans are rated from one star (poor) to five stars (excellent) in different categories, such as responsiveness and care, member complaints and customer service.

After you’ve gone through the four C’s, it’s time for the D — decide. Once you compare coverage, cost, convenience and customer service, you will be ready to make a well-researched decision to either change your plan or stay with the one you have.

Remember, it’s important to review your options carefully. In some cases, if you drop your coverage, you may not be able to get it back. Also, during this sole season of Medicare open enrollment, if you miss the Dec. 7 deadline, you will have to wait until next fall to switch to a different Medicare plan.

For more information about Medicare open enrollment, visit www.aarp.org/openenrollment or call 866-448-3621 and request one free copy of Understanding Medicare (D19327).