It’s that time again! Open enrollment for Medicare and private insurance coverage is upon us. Below are some important health insurance details for these open enrollment periods.

Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

• Medicare open enrollment begins on October 15th and ends on December 7th.
• Open enrollment for private insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace begins November 1st and ends December 15th. If you do not enroll in a marketplace plan by December 15th, you cannot enroll in a plan for the rest of 2019 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
• Coverage for both Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace plans begins on January 1, 2019.

Reviewing Your Health Insurance Coverage

When reviewing your health care coverage this year, check to see whether you use a drug manufacturer copay assistance card/coupon to help cover the cost of your medication. If you are, be sure to read the fine print or call your insurer. There are a number of insurance plans that will no longer count copay assistance toward your deductible or maximum out-of-pocket limit. This can end up costing you or your family thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.

To help you better understand the complexities of health insurance coverage, we also encourage you to visit the website section My Health Insurance Guide or call the MSAA Helpline at (800) 532-7667, ext. 154. This is an important time. So be sure to enroll in a health insurance plan that is right for you!

Many medical expenses are associated with MS, so ensuring that you have health insurance coverage is vital. Check the insurance plan details so that you can enroll or re-enroll in a health insurance plan that meets your needs.