With Medicare Annual Enrollment around the corner, there are so many questions about finding the right plan. Here is our short guide to a smooth discussion with a licensed insurance agent, and all the information you should bring to help find a plan that meets your needs:
1. First, decide if you are more interested in:
- Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare Supplement Insurance plans
- Either kind of plan
2. What are the key priorities with your new coverage? Some considerations of what might matter most to you include the following:
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Monthly premium costs
- Annual deductible cost
- Prescription drug cost
- Coverage for specialized services
- Coverage for specialized prescription drugs
- Coverage during travel
3. Gather information from your current insurance plan to compare and contrast. Be sure to include:
- Your carrier/plan name
- Your monthly premium
- Your annual deductible
- Your plan type (PPO, HMO, etc.)
4. Next, list your preferred doctors and other providers. Include the following information for each one:
- Doctor/provider’s name
- Type of doctor/provider
- Doctor/
Pprovider’s phone number - Doctor/provider’s location
- Number of visits to this doctor/provider in a year
5. Next, list the prescription drugs you take in order to find a plan that includes coverage for these medications. Include the following information:
- Drug name
- Dose
- Quantity needed per refill
- $$ cost per refill