Take Advantage of Medicare Open Enrollment!

After a long, hot summer, many of us look forward to the arrival of autumn with its crisp cool air and colorful leaves. For seniors, the season also marks the beginning of Medicare Open Enrollment.

Every year from October 15^th until December 7^th, Medicare recipients have the opportunity to review their Medicare plan choices and make decisions for new coverage beginning on the first of the following year.

The volume of advertisements for Medicare plans and the wide array of options available can be overwhelming. Often the response to too much information is inaction. Many seniors forgo the opportunity afforded only during Open Enrollment to make much-needed changes to their previous Medicare plan selection. However, re-evaluating your options can result in decreased healthcare costs and increased benefits and coverage.

If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare insurance plan, and you make no changes during Open Enrollment, you will be automatically re-enrolled into your current plan. As tempting as it might be to stay with your original plan choice, that could be a costly decision. If you have experienced any changes in your utilization of medical services, prescription drug use, or personal finances during the previous year, it might warrant taking another look at your Medicare options.

Atrius Health provides several educational opportunities to help Medicare patients navigate the Medicare maze. We encourage you to visit the Medicare Information page on the Atrius Health website. There you can find detailed information about our upcoming Medicare Information Sessions, the plans accepted at Atrius Health, and additional resources for guidance through the decision-making process.

Atrius Health accepts Medicare Advantage plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Tufts Health Plan. Both of these health insurance providers conduct seminars designed to inform and educate Medicare beneficiaries on the various plan options. For a listing of seminars available in your area, please visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield and Tufts Health Plan web sites.

In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently introduced an upgraded tool to assist beneficiaries in comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. You can access this tool on the Medicare.gov website.

If you are an Atrius Health patient and still have unanswered questions or require additional clarification regarding Medicare plan choices after consulting these resources, you may contact our Medicare Education Specialist by email at Diane_Reilly@atriushealth.org.

Don’t let the opportunity pass you by to choose the very best plan for your healthcare needs in the year ahead!

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