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Preparing for Medicare Open Enrollment: Know Your Rights During Medicare Open Enrollment

Shopping for Medicare can be an exciting time; it is when you can find a plan that offers the coverage you need and saves you money. But it can also be a hectic and frustrating time, when you could get scammed or hounded by ads, calls, and mail telling you which plan to enroll into or which insurance company to use. Remember, you have rights during Medicare Open Enrollment, and knowing them will protect you from some of the nuisances that tend to happen at this time.

Limitations on Contact

Did you know that Medicare agents cannot call you without your consent? They can only contact you if you fill out a form agreeing to be contacted. You cannot be contacted:

If you do not have a relationship with the company.
By email unless you have agreed to receive emails from the agent.
With flyers, door hangers or visits to your home unless an agent has a scheduled appointment with you.

Limitations on Sales

If you do agree to be contacted by an agent, they can then talk to you about Medicare options that can help save you money. However, they are limited in what they can discuss with you. They cannot try to sell you all different kinds of Medicare plans; they can only speak to you about what you are interested in. You will fill out a Scope of Appointment form prior to the meeting, and this form will set limits on what they can discuss. For example, if you check that you are only interested in Medicare Supplement Plan options, then that is the only thing they will speak to you about.

person holding a cellphone with an unknown caller on the screen — Scammers will try to call to steal your information during the Open *Enrollment*, which is why it is important to never give out your information over the phone.

Be aware that no agent ever has the right to threaten you with taking away your benefits if you do not sign up for a plan. They also cannot try to bribe you with gifts to try and get you to sign up for a plan.

Side note: Scammers might try to call you and act as a representative from Medicare in order to try and steal your Medicare ID number and other personal information. No Medicare representatives will ever call and ask you for that information over the phone; if they do need to connect with you, they will send you something in the mail. Unless you specifically filled out a form to be contacted by a Medicare agent, hang up – and never give out any information over the phone!

Use A Professional Licensed Agent

With EZ.Insure, you will never have to worry about your privacy being compromised or your rights being violated. Our licensed insurance agents are highly trained and pride themselves on providing help in a professional yet caring manner. In order to protect you, EZ.Insure uses state-of-the-art technology to keep your information secure when you fill out our form. We go a step further by providing you with one and only one agent to work with- you will never get bounced around from agent to agent.

We work hard in order to make sure you save money. We’ll compare all available plans in your area, so you can find a Medicare Supplement Plan that will help pay for what Original Medicare does not. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak directly with one of our licensed agents, call 888-753-7207.

Will You & Your Spouse Be On The Same Medicare Plan?

You and your spouse are probably used to doing a lot of things together. While you were working, healthcare was probably one of the things that you participated in jointly. If you had an individual or employer-based insurance plan, you and your spouse were probably on one plan, which helped you to save money. So now that the time has come to enroll in Medicare, you might be wondering whether you can save money by being on the same Medicare plan. Because Medicare works differently from private insurance, the short answer is no. Medicare plans are issued on an individual basis, so you and your spouse cannot be on one plan.

How Medicare Works

medicare enrollment form with a pen laying on it — *You can delay Medicare Part B if you are working, and then enroll later without a penalty.*

Some people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, and others have to sign up for it manually. In most cases, this depends on whether you’re already receiving your Social Security benefits. If you are 65 and collecting Social Security, then you will automatically be enrolled into Medicare Part A. If you decide to hold off on collecting Social Security, then you will have to manually enroll in Medicare Part A when you turn 65.

Because Medicare Part B has a monthly premium, it is optional; this means you will have to sign up for it yourself during your Initial Enrollment Period (the 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the 3 months after you turn 65). If you do not enroll in Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period, then you will face a late penalty for every year you push off Part B enrollment. If you are still working at 65, then you can opt out of Medicare Part B enrollment without facing a penalty fee, as long as your employer has 20 or more employees.

Both Medicare Parts A and B are plans for one individual person, offered by the government and paid for by the taxes you contributed while you were working. Even if your spouse is already enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare yourself, your plans will not be connected. As mentioned above, Medicare does not work in the same way as a private health insurance plan, which would allow you to join your spouse’s plan and receive the same benefits. Everyone enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B receives the same benefits; the differences in coverage comes when you choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement Plan.

Medicare Supplement Plans

money bills rolled up in a rubber band — *Medicare Supplement Plans will help you save on medical expenses based on your individual needs.*

Medicare Parts A and B are individually issued by the government; Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement Plans are private plans but are also connected to one individual beneficiary. Unlike Original Medicare, though, the coverage they offer differs from plan to plan and person to person. Each Medicare Supplement Plan will have different access to healthcare providers and different networks. What works for one person might not work for another. Because Medicare Part B only covers 80% of costs, many Medicare beneficiaries choose to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare Supplement Plans are only sold on an individual basis, so you and your spouse will need to purchase separate plans, and may be offered different coverage depending on your needs. If you get a Medicare Supplement Plan through the same company, though, you might be able to take advantage of household discounts. Some companies will offer a discount if one or more members in your household have a plan from the same company.

When Choosing A Plan

Even if you could enroll in your spouse’s Medicare plan, doing so would not provide any extra benefits for you. All Original Medicare plans offer the same benefits, and the beauty of Medicare Supplement Plans is that there are 10 to choose from, so you can get benefits tailored to your needs. But in order to get maximum coverage and to save money, you will have to compare plans and research your options to determine which plan will best fit your financial and medical situation. For example, when looking for a Medicare Supplement Plan, you should talk to your doctors to make sure that they accept Medicare assignment and that they are in each plan’s network.

When you are ready to enroll in Medicare, contact an EZ Medicare agent. We want to make sure you can continue seeing your doctors, getting your medications, and being treated for any conditions. We also want to make sure that you can save money while doing so! We will research all possible options in your area and provide you with quotes so you can make an informed decision for your healthcare needs. All of our services are free, and there is no obligation to sign up. We want to help you get covered! To compare plans in minutes, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-753-7207.

Preparing For Medicare Open Enrollment: 2021 Medicare Supplement Plan Rates

Original Medicare offers great health benefits for people ages 65 and older, but there are some expenses it does not fully cover. Medicare Part B covers 80% of most medical costs, leaving beneficiaries to pay the remaining 20% out-of-pocket. These out-of-pocket costs can add up, which is why many Medicare beneficiaries buy a Medicare Supplement Plan. These plans pay for what Original Medicare does not, and can end up saving you hundreds of dollars each year. CMS has announced that Medicare Part B costs are going up next year, but luckily the costs for most Medicare Supplement Plans will remain the same, with only a few changing. Find out just how much you can save before Medicare Open Enrollment is over!

What Are Medicare Supplement Plans?

older caucasian man with a button up on and a caucasian woman with lab coat checking on him. — *Medicare Supplement Plans cover costs not covered by Original Medicare such as help with nursing facility costs.*

Medicare Supplement Plans are supplemental insurance policies sold by private insurance companies. They help pay for things that are not covered by Medicare Parts A and B. There are 10 different Medicare Supplement Plans, each with different levels of coverage. Some costs that might be covered include:

Parts A and B deductibles
Coinsurance or copays for parts A and B
Part B excess charges
Skilled nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days
Hospital costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days
Health-related costs when traveling outside the U.S.
Blood (first 3 pints)

How Much Are Premiums?

The exact amount for monthly premiums can vary by individual policy. Insurance companies can set these rates in three ways:

Community rated- Monthly premiums are the same for everyone that purchases a plan, regardless of their age. Your premium is not based on your age.
Issue-age rated- Monthly premiums are based on the age you are when you first purchase the plan (younger buyers will have lower premiums). Premiums do not increase as you get older.
Attained-age rated– Monthly premiums are based on the age you are when you purchase the plan: the younger you are, the lower your premium will be. Your premium will go up as you get older.

2021 Price Changes

There will be changes to prices in 2021 for some Medicare Supplement Plans; these changes will mainly be to deductible amounts and out-of-pocket limits. Medicare Plan G, the only plan that has a high-deductible option (since Plan F is no longer available, unless you purchased it before January 1, 2020), will see a rise in its deductible amount. For 2021, the deductible for these plans is $2,370.

Medicare Supplement Plans K and L have out-of-pocket limits. This is the maximum out-of-pocket amount that you will have to pay for covered services. After you reach the limit, your plan will pay for 100% of covered services for the rest of the year. For 2021:

Plan K’s out-of-pocket limit is $6,220
Plan L’s out-of-pocket limit is $3,110

Finding The Best Plan

The best things about Medicare Supplement Plans are that you will save money on out-of-pocket Medicare costs, and that you will not be held back by network restrictions. With a Medicare Supplement Plan, as long as you see a doctor that accepts Medicare, you will be covered by your plan. If you are interested in looking into a Medicare Supplement Plan, EZ.Insure will explain all of them to you and compare plans within minutes. We will assess your health and financial needs, discuss all the options, and guide you in the right direction. Our goal is to help you find the best plan and save you the most money, which is why our services are free. To get instant quotes, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with one of our licensed agents, call 888-753-7207.

Beware Of Medicare Scams During Open Enrollment

Medicare Open Enrollment is the perfect opportunity for you to change plans and find ways to get more coverage and save money. Medicare Open Enrollment is also the perfect opportunity for scammers to try and steal your information. They know that you will be looking for the best coverage at this time, so they’ll jump on the chance to confuse, bait, or scare you. In order to protect yourself, you have to be aware of the most common scams and scamming tactics.

The Different Types of Scams

The most important thing you need to know is that, unless you request information from them, Medicare will not call you. You should treat any unsolicited calls from someone claiming to be with Medicare as suspicious; in fact, the majority of Medicare scams are phone calls. Here are scams to look out for:

A call or recorded message from someone who claims to be helping you navigate your Medicare options. This person might claim that they are an advocate working on your behalf, and that they can enroll you in a better, cheaper Medicare plan if you give them some personal information. If you did not sign up for help, then this is a scammer trying to get your information.
A call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who offers you promotional gifts.
A call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who threatens to discontinue your insurance if you don’t re-enroll now.
If you suspect a scammer has contacted you, call 1-800-Medicare to report it.

What To Do

No one representing Medicare will ever contact you by phone, email, or in person unless you have already made contact with them. The best way to avoid any scam is to never give your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan information, bank information, or any other personal information to someone that you don’t know.

If you do receive a call that is suspicious, then hang up and call 1-800-Medicare to report it. Then contact your Medicare agent, or Medicare, to make sure that there is nothing wrong with your current plan, and that there are no actions that you need to take.

Getting Trusted Help

Medicare Open Enrollment can be a very busy and overwhelming time. You are in the midst of figuring out if your current plan is right for you, and researching other plans in your area to try to save money and get the most coverage. On top of that, you have to worry about people trying to steal your information. You can protect yourself from the many scammers out there by knowing their scare tactics and the ways that they will pretend to help you. In addition, you can make sure that you are fully protected from identity theft or worse by contacting an EZ agent!

EZ.Insure uses state-of-the-art technology to protect your information when you fill out our online form. To further protect your information, we will only share it with one agent. Whether you want to know more about your Medicare options, sign up for a Medicare Supplement Plan, or simply compare plans, EZ’s got you covered. With us, you will never have to worry about outside parties getting their hands on your information. To start comparing quotes for free, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak directly to an agent, call 888-753-7207.

Preparing For Medicare Open Enrollment: Medicare’s 2021 Part B Premium Capped By Congress

Amid uncertainties about Medicare prices for 2021, Congress has taken action to provide some relief next year for the 64 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. On Wednesday, September 30th, a short-term government funding bill was passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump that will cap Medicare Part B premiums for 2021. There has been no official announcement indicating how much premiums will be next year, but thanks to the bill, any increase will be capped at 25% of what it otherwise would have been.

picture of congress building — *A short-term government funding bill was passed by the Senate will cap Medicare Part B premiums for 2021.*

No Real Numbers Yet

Medicare Part B premiums rose nearly 7% in 2020, which had Medicare trustees predicting back in April of this year that the standard 2021 Part B premium would be $153.20, a 6% increase. However, due to the pandemic, there has been uncertainty surrounding Medicare prices for next year. The impacts of COVID-19 might be a major factor in determining how much premiums will increase.

“One thing that’s really hard about this year is that there’s been increased costs from treating Covid, but decreased cost from people delaying care or avoiding being in hospitals or doctors offices,” said Casey Schwarz, senior counsel for education and federal policy at the Medicare Rights Center.

Social Security COLA Role

social security card under some money bills and coins — *Social Security COLA is expected to be 1.3%, but this might not be enough.*

It is also unclear whether Social Security’s associated annual cost of living adjustment, or COLA, will be enough to cover next year’s increase in Medicare premiums. The COLA, which is provided to seniors to help with the costs of necessities like Medicare premiums, is estimated to increase 1.3% next year, meaning the average monthly benefits will increase from $1,053 to a little over $1,522.

A discrepancy between the increase in Part B premiums and the increase in the COLA wouldn’t necessarily be a major problem for Social Security recipients. If Part B premiums increase is more than the COLA, then Medicare beneficiaries who are collecting Social Security are “held harmless.” This means that they can see a premium increase but it can’t be larger than their COLA dollar-amount increase. Unfortunately, Medicare beneficiaries who are not collecting Social Security benefits absorb the extra costs, which means they could see a sharp rise in premiums.

“What seems to be motivating Congress is the fear that there will be an unexpected spike in premiums, or one that’s out of step with normal premium increases across the board, or specifically for those not held harmless,” Schwarz said.

The Cap

sign of a red hand in a red triangles — *Congress put a cap on Part B premiums so that it is guaranteed to not exceed a 25% rise.*

While we would normally have a good idea by now of how much premiums are going to be for the following year, the pandemic is putting everything on hold. Only 25% of Part B is funded through premiums; the other 75% is funded through money from the federal government’s general revenue – this year, the government took a “loss” by providing millions of Americans, hospitals and businesses with financial relief, and so that loss may be passed on to Medicare beneficiaries.

Even if Congress has capped the premiums and will not allow them to increase by more than 25% of what they would have increased by, that percentage could still mean a large jump in premium prices. Many Medicare beneficiaries could still end up struggling to keep up with costs. Premium prices are expected to be revealed in early November.

If you need help planning for next year, consider getting help from an EZ.Insure agent. Our licensed agents will help you prepare financially for next year, and review all Medicare options in your area. To get free advice and quotes on plans, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak directly to one of our agents, call 888-753-7207.

Preparing For Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Need To Know for Your First Open Enrollment

If this was your first year as a Medicare beneficiary, then you are heading into your first Medicare Open Enrollment Period. When you enrolled in Medicare, you chose whether to stick with Original Medicare, add a Medicare Supplement Plan, or go with a Medicare Advantage Plan, and now is the time to evaluate your plan to see if it’s still working for you. You’ll have the option to stay with it, or change your plan this fall during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7.

When it comes to your Medicare plan, you shouldn’t simply sit back and let your plan renew. Medicare plans come and go, and yours might not exist next year – or there might be a plan that better suits your needs. If this is your first time preparing for Medicare’s Open Enrollment, there are some things you need to review and consider. Taking a little time to do this will not only help you get the best coverage next year, but will also help put money back in your pocket.

magnifying glass over "Jan 1" — *Any changes you make during fall Medicare Open Enrollment will not take effect until January 1st.*

Changes Won’t Take Effect Immediately

Because this is your first Medicare Open Enrollment, it is important to know that whatever decisions you make during the open enrollment, it will go into effect January 1st. So, if you choose to switch plans, know that your new plan will not begin until the new year. This is important so you can budget accordingly for the rest of this year.

Your Options

During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, existing Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their plan, including:

Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or vice versa.
Adding a Medicare Supplement Plan if you switch to Original Medicare.
Changing your Medicare Advantage Plan.
Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan or picking a new drug plan

yellow post it not with a red exclamation point drawn on it — *Before making any changes to your Medicare plan, you will receive some important documents you need to review.*

Important Documents You Need To Review

As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, you will start receiving some notices in the mail – usually in September. These notices include:

Annual Notice of Change – Lists changes to your current plan, such as changes to coverage, costs, included drugs, or provider network.
Evidence of Coverage – Lets you know whether your plan will be available next year.
Medicare And You Book – Provides you with a list of plans in your area, including their costs and coverage rules.

Determine If Your Existing Plan Is Still A Good Match For Your Needs

The last thing that you should do is blindly accept your current plan and renew it for the coming year. This can end up costing you a lot of money out-of-pocket. You should review the above documents carefully in order to be aware of any changes that are coming to your current plan. You might find out that your current plan will not be available in your area anymore, that costs are going up drastically, or that something you need coverage for will no longer be covered.

Review your plan, and if it no longer meets your needs, then the next step is to start searching for other options. EZ.Insure’s agents can help you compare plans in your area in minutes.

How You Can Save

What some people are unaware of is that they can save a lot of money next year by adding a Medicare Supplement Plan if they have Original Medicare, or are switching to Original Medicare. One of the biggest advantages of Medicare Supplement Plans is that they will generally cover your Part B 20% out-of-pocket costs – all you have to do is pay a low monthly premium, and you’ll have more coverage, and save more money. There are 10 different plans to choose from; it is important to review all the different plans to see which one will offer you the most coverage for your specific needs.

Trust A Medicare Agent To Help You

Going over all of the paperwork that you are receiving this month can become quite overwhelming. Not only do you have to carefully review all the notices and make sure your plan is still a good fit for you, but you have to begin researching other plans to see if they might work better for you. This is a time-consuming process, but it doesn’t have to be if you use an EZ.Insure agent. Our agents are highly trained and know the ins and outs of all the different Medicare Supplement Plans. You will be provided with your own agent who will go over your notices, review your current plan, and find a Medicare Supplement Plan that will help you save as much money as possible.

And the best thing about EZ? Our services are always free! We will research, compare, and even sign you up for free! To get your free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with an agent, call 888-753-7207. No hassle, no obligation!