Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period Is Over — What’s Next?

With the rush of Annual Enrollment done and the year coming to a close, many may think this is the time to ignore Medicare concerns and leave it alone until the next Annual Enrollment. But that would be a mistake.  

The early months of the year are the perfect time to get in-depth on your Medicare plan, your current coverage and planning for your financial and medical future.  

Today, we’re going to look at our top suggestions for what you should be doing during the winter months to help you prepare for the future.

Need Medicare or retirement planning help? The Medicare Allies team specializes in Medicare health insurance as well as retirement planning. Call us today at 833-801-7999 for personalized help.

Tip 1: Review Your Overall Medicare Plan

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period — October through the beginning of December — is the busiest time of year for both agents and insurance companies. However, the early part of the calendar year is generally a bit calmer, and there's more time to slow down and do some strategic planning.

It is a good time to reach out and discuss any plan or policy questions you may have or review your overall Medicare Plan.  

Schedule a time to make an appointment with us to ensure you know how to use your Medicare benefits and can make a solid plan for your health and wealth concerns moving forward.

Tip 2: Update Existing Policy Information

The early months of the year are a great time to review all your important documents and plan policies. Things can change from year to year. Setting aside time to review policy information ensures that your information is accurate and that you are getting the most out of your policies.  

Make sure your information is accurate on your Social Security account as well. Having accurate contact information is essential and even a small typo could lead to a headache down the road. People move and phone numbers change, so making sure you have the correct information is important.

While you’re at it, review your beneficiary information to make sure that contact information is up to date as well. Want to change beneficiaries? You can add or drop beneficiaries to ensure your preferences on beneficiaries are up to date.  

You should also review your Medicare plan benefit information and familiarize yourself with this year’s coverage changes. Review amounts, whether you are still getting what you need and any other policy questions you might have. There’s never a downside to being informed.

Tip 3: Keep an Eye on Your New Part D and MA Plan

Whether you signed up for a new plan during Annual Enrollment or stayed in the MA plan you already had, plan changes go into effect on January 1st.  

We recommend keeping an eye on your coverage during the first few months to ensure you are happy with your coverage. Medicare Advantage plans can be dropped during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period, which runs January 1st and March 31st, if your new plan does not meet your satisfaction.  

If you have any questions or need help, just give us a call!

Tip 4: Tackle Any IRA or 401k Rollovers

Many people opt for retiring at the end of the year, so setting a time each year in the first quarter to review your finances is a great time to tackle any financial questions you might have. And even if that’s not the case for you, finding time to review your financial information is a great way to save money and make sure you have the financial security you deserve.  

Want to learn more about IRA and 401k plans and rollovers? You’re in luck! We have already put together some great resources to get you started.  

Check out our post answering the question of whether to rollover into an annuity to learn more about what annuities are, and watch our video Q&A on how to rollover into an annuity to get started on your journey.  

If you have any questions on 401ks, IRAs, annuities or other retirement financial concerns, give us a call. We are here to answer any questions you might have about financial planning during your retirement years.  

Conclusion

Just because healthcare’s busiest season is over does not mean your work is done. By taking simple actions throughout the year, you will have confidence in your choices for health coverage and financial planning.  

Having an agent review these areas with you can help demystify Medicare and help you understand your coverage better. Give us a shout and speak with one of our experts today about Medicare, financial options or any other concerns you may have. We are ready to help!

Also, be sure to download our Medicare checklist for ages 66+.