Medicare Annual Election
Period (AEP) for 2013
It's that time of year again for the Annual Election Period
(AEP) for Medicare Health and Drug plans.
The AEP runs from 10/15 - 12/7 and is the period when you can change
your Medicare Health/Drug plan or return to the original Medicare program. Any changes made become effective on January
1st, 2013.
There's no doubt your mail box is filling up with
advertisements from every insurance company with a Medicare Health and Drug
Plan. But please remember that along
with those advertisements will also come the Annual Notice of Change and
Evidence of Coverage documents from your current Medicare Insurance Plan. As you know change is inevitable; and this
year is no exception.
It is important that you review your 2013 plan documentation
to see what has changed and how the
changes affect you. As in past years, we
will be contacting all of our Medicare clients between October 1st and October
15th to discuss changes in your plan and help you determine if the same plan,
or a different plan will best meet your needs. According to CMS rules, agents
can discuss plan benefits beginning on October 1st; and enrollment
applications/changes can be processed beginning on October 15th. So if you have received your Annual Notice of
Change and Evidence of Coverage documents, and you have a question or concern
about your coverage, feel free to give
us a call first! We don't want you to
worry one minute about your Medicare Plan.
The earlier we know your needs have changed or any changes your plan has
made that adversely affect you, the more time we have to research alternatives
for your Health and Drug Plan needs.
Medicare Health and Drug Plans are governed by enrollment
guidelines established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS). Please refer to the following
chart, courtesy of Universal Health Care Insurance Company:
