GREENSBORO, N.C. — Medicare open enrollment begins this week and goes until Dec. 7, 2023. Your new coverage begins on Jan. 1, 2024. This open enrollment period is for folks already on Medicare, this is not the time for those who are turning 65 right now to enroll (look below for the enrollment timeline for those new to Medicare).
While you may be happy with the plan and coverage you had in 2023, you still need to take a look at what the plans look like in 2024. Your health needs may or may not have changed, but chances are, the plan from 2023 has some changes to it for the next year, and you need to make sure you're covered in the best way.
"If you have a Supplemental plan, or if you have an Advantage plan you need to be thinking about any changes you might want to make. Why you might want to make changes, is a change in your health care, drugs you're taking," said Catherine Sevier, NC AARP.
You can look at your options at Medicare.gov. There are several comparison tools and a handbook for this year.
"They've now listed top drugs that they are going to cover differently, so it's really important for people to know what medicines they currently take and make sure they are looking for a plan whether it's Medicare Advantage or a Supplement," said Sevier.
During the enrollment period, you can:
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or the other way around)
Compare your Part D prescription drug plan coverage to other options
It can be confusing and you may want to ask a question to an expert. WFMY News 2 has two Medicare experts joining us on TV from 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17th. You can text in your questions and get the answers live on TV.