- You can change plans - The whole idea of open enrollment is that you have an opportunity to change your plan if you'd like. This could be because the plans are going up in price, or maybe because your plan no longer covers what you need it too.
- You can drop a plan even after the Open Enrollment period ends - How can you know if you like your plan if you don't even have a chance to try it? Between January 1st and February 14th, you can drop your plan if it isn’t meeting your needs.
- Make sure that you look at all aspects of costs - Just looking at the premiums isn't enough. Look at the cost of copays, coinsurance, premiums, and deductibles as well, so you know truly how much you will be spending that year.
- Check your medications - Each year, various medications are added and removed from various plans. Check and make sure that you are getting what you need on your plan so you don't have to pay out of pocket for it.
- Make sure that you can keep your doctor - Doctors can sometimes be added or removed from the network. If your doctor is removed from on plan but not another, you might want to change plans, or face losing your doctor.
- Many preventive services are free - yearly wellness visits, diabetes screenings, cancer screenings, etc. are often free for Medicare and Medicare Advantage users. Make sure you know what is free and take advantage of them.
- Know your options - Like many things in life, being informed is one of your most powerful tools. Staying in the know with all the changes that might affect you can help you save money and time.
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