Getting the Most Out of Your Medicare Plan in 2022

Are you satisfied with your current Medicare plan coverage?

You should review your plan on at least a yearly basis to make sure you are:

• Getting the most from your benefits
• Taking advantage of preventive care services
• Tracking annual out-of-pocket expenses
• Deciding if you want to switch, drop, or add plans
• Making any changes before the enrollment deadline

Here are a few suggestions on how to take full advantage of your benefits and get the most out of your Medicare plan in 2022.

Getting the Most From Your Benefits

Check out your current plan and what it covers to get the most out of your Medicare benefits. Some plans offer health and wellness perks such as deeply discounted gym memberships, personal training services, or free fitness classes such as the Silver Sneakers program.

You’ll also want to check if your plan offers medical equipment or safety devices, such as shower chairs or bathroom grab bars, that can help with any lifestyle challenges you are facing.

Taking Advantage of Preventive Care Services

Take advantage of all benefits covered by your plan including any preventive care services. Some of these low-cost preventive care benefits include yearly physical exams, annual flu shots, blood pressure screenings, colonoscopies, and mammograms.

Other Medicare preventive services include things like diabetes prevention programs, glaucoma screening, counseling to prevent tobacco use, bone density measurements, and medical nutrition therapy. You don’t even have to feel ill to take advantage of these services – they actually help catch potential problems before they become an issue.

A great document to review is your ANOC – Annual Notice of Change – that Medicare providers send out to all policyholders. This notice lets you know if your costs are going up or if you’re losing a previously covered benefit. The ANOC gets sent out by September 30th, just in time for the annual enrollment period.

Tracking Yearly Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Yearly out-of-pocket expenses vary depending on your health needs and the type of Medicare plan you’re enrolled in. If you have Original Medicare, there is no coverage limit. This is why some people choose to enroll in Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plans.

When planning a major medical procedure, such as knee replacement or cataract surgery, check your annual plan coverage limits. Verifying covered services, and how much you have to pay for lab tests, hospital stays, and doctor’s visits, means you’re less likely to be hit with unexpected expenses.

If you need a plan with additional benefits such as dental, hearing, or vision care coverage you may want to consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan to help to keep expenses to a minimum.

Switching, Dropping, or Adding Plans

Reviewing your ANOC, contacting your insurance carrier, or consulting with an insurance agent will identify any shifts in Medicare coverage starting in the new year. Things to look for include any changes in co-pays, deductibles, or premiums. You’ll also want to verify that all your doctors, hospitals, and healthcare providers are still in your network.

AEP is the perfect time to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare, change your Medicare Advantage plan, or switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan. And, if you’ve recently been prescribed any new medications that aren’t covered under your current plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Enrolling in a New Plan During AEP

Now that you’ve had a chance to check your coverage and understand the plan benefits you may decide to change your Original Medicare plan, Medicare Advantage plan, or Medicare Part D plan.

You can switch plans during the Annual Enrollment Period that runs from October 15th to December 7th. Any changes you make during this time go into effect after the start of the new year.

Try Our Medicare Plan Finder

See all the plans available in your zip code with our easy-to-use plan finder, or call us today at 833-319-0475 or TTY 711 and we’ll help match your needs with plans in your area.

Our plan finder tool lets you compare your current plan to other plans in your area. All costs, coverages and benefits are shown side-by-side, so you can see at a glance which plan gives you more of the things you want.