A Message From Congressman Ted Deutch

Medicare’s open enrollment period is a once-a-year opportunity for current beneficiaries to make changes to their health care coverage. This year’s open enrollment period begins on October 15, 2014 and ends on December 7, 2014. Whether you want to switch between original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, choose a different Medicare Advantage health plan, or change your prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D, I would like to share some basic information to help you make the best decision for your own health care needs. For more resources, I invite you to visit www.TedDeutch.House.Gov/Medicare.

During the open enrollment period, you may choose between original Medicare or Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare is a federal fee-for-service insurance system that includes Part A hospital coverage and Part B medical coverage for things like doctor visits. Beneficiaries may also purchase one of the private prescription drug plans made available through Medicare Part D. Finally, many enrollees elect to purchase additional coverage through a supplemental plan, known as a MediGap policy. Premiums for MediGap insurance are in addition to those charged under Medicare Part B, and the costs and benefits of these plans vary a great deal.

Alternatively, you can enroll in Medicare Advantage, a program in which private insurance companies administer your Part A and Part B benefits through a PPO, HMO, or similar arrangement. Because these health plans are not managed by the federal government, I recommend that everyone interested in Medicare Advantage take the time to do some comparison shopping. Many of these plans offer customers additional benefits, but it is important to note that some insurers also charge monthly premiums on top of the premiums you already pay for Medicare Part B each month. Please note that not all Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage, so you may need to find a standalone prescription drug plan.

You should also be aware that premiums, deductibles, and other cost-sharing responsibilities – such as co-payments for visits to specialists or costs for medications inside the “donut hole" – vary from plan to plan. Please take the time to understand these costs before you enroll. I would be remiss not to mention that the Affordable Care Act has helped keep premium increases minimal under Medicare by encouraging efficiency and eliminating waste. In 2015, the average increase to Medicare Advantage premiums is expected to be about $2.94 a month, and many plans will have no increase at all.

I understand that all this information can be overwhelming. To view my expanded guide to Medicare open enrollment, please visit teddeutch.house.gov/medicare.  

 

Kind regards, 

Ted Deutch