Medicare and ACA Open Enrollment

Posted on October 12, 2018 by MSAA

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.

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Important 2018 Insurance Deadlines

Posted on December 6, 2017 by MSAA

As the 2017 calendar year starts coming to a close, we would like to remind everyone about two important enrollment deadlines that are approaching for 2018 health insurance coverage:

Medicare
Medicare Open Enrollment ends on December 7th for coverage that begins on January 1, 2018.

Health Insurance Marketplace
Private insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace has a December 15th deadline in order to receive coverage that begins on January 1, 2018. If you do not enroll in a marketplace plan by December 15th, you cannot enroll in a plan for the rest of 2018 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Ensuring that you have health insurance coverage to manage the many medical expenses that can accompany MS is crucial. You can visit these sites in order to enroll or re-enroll in a health insurance plan that meets your needs.

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

Insurance Open Enrollment is Coming!

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Angel Blair

That’s right, it’s almost here again-that time of year when individuals can enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan. The open enrollment period to sign up for 2017 health insurance coverage begins November 1, 2016. Those who are uninsured can search for insurance plan options and assistance through the Marketplace to find a plan that works for them. Some may even qualify for lower costs on insurance premiums depending on your household information. Be sure to review the deadlines to sign up for insurance coverage to ensure that you are covered on a plan beginning January 1, 2017.

As this is an important time for those who are uninsured, it is too for those who have previously purchased health insurance through the marketplace. For the latter, if you are not satisfied with your current plan purchased for 2016 and would like to make a change, now is the time to do so. During open enrollment you can review other insurance plans to see if another plan better matches your needs.

For those currently enrolled in marketplace plans, you may receive a letter from your insurance company explaining if the company will either automatically re-enroll you for 2017 coverage, or if you will not be automatically re-enrolled. If your insurance company plans to automatically re-enroll you for coverage but you would like to make a change, it’s important to review other policies during the enrollment period and take action to change it by December 15^thto ensure coverage beginning January 1^st.

Whether you’re notified that you’ll be re-enrolled in your current plan or not, you do have to update your expected income and household information for the 2017 coverage year. This is to ensure that your premium tax credits are correct and that you will receive the appropriate coverage costs and plan options for the next year. A letter from the health insurance marketplace is also sent out to individuals currently enrolled that better explains the actions needed to receive the accurate premium tax credits for 2017.

In addition to updating your own income and household information, be sure to take the time to review the different insurance plan policies and prices for the new 2017 coverage year as these do change. You can also find helpful information with MSAA resources like My Health Insurance Guide and The Affordable Care Act and Multiple Sclerosis brochure that provides an overview of the insurance planning process and steps to help you PLAN ahead.

Resources:

https://www.healthcare.gov/

https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/

https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/

https://www.healthcare.gov/keep-or-change-plan/

It’s Almost Medicare Open Enrollment Time!

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Angel Blair

A week from now Medicare’s open enrollment insurance period will begin, running from October 15^th until December 7^th. This is the time when you can review your current Medicare plan and make changes if needed. You do not need to sign up for Medicare each year, but you can review your coverage and make adjustments if necessary to ensure your health insurance needs are being met.

Medicare beneficiaries who have a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan should receive documents such as ‘Evidence of Coverage’ or ‘Annual Notice of Change’ letters from your health plan showing coverage outlines and any changes that will occur. It’s very important to review these materials to make sure of any changes in the plan’s costs, providers, benefits, drug formularies, etc. so that if something is changing with your plan, you are aware of it and can make changes to your coverage if needed. These plans can change their benefits so it’s crucial to review your policy and any upcoming changes.

What can you do during the open enrollment period? According to Medicare’s website you can:

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan and vice versa.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or from one Part D prescription plan to another.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D Plan) if you haven’t done so.

The Medicare website offers a Medicare Plan Finder where you can search for and compare health plans, benefits, coverage and estimated costs. You can also contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for additional information and questions.

For additional help, you can receive individualized assistance and guidance in choosing coverage through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). This resource provides one-on-one insurance counseling and support, visit https://www.shiptacenter.org/ to find your local office.

MSAA’s My Health Insurance Guide is another helpful source for the MS community to find more information about insurance options and resources. This is an important time, so be sure to review your plan’s coverage and make changes if needed to make sure it’s right for you!

Resources:

http://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/overview-of-medicare-health-coverage-options/changing-medicare-health-coverage/6-things-to-know-about-fall-open-enrollment

https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan/when-can-i-join-a-health-or-drug-plan.html#collapse-3190

Insurance Open Enrollment Begins!

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Angel Blair

It’s that time of year again when individuals can enroll in a Marketplace health insurance plan. The open enrollment period to sign up for 2016 health insurance coverage begins November 1, 2015. For those who are uninsured, this marks the time when you can search for insurance plan options and assistance that may be right for you within the Marketplace. You may even qualify for lower costs on insurance premiums depending on your household information. Be sure to review the deadlines to sign up for insurance coverage to ensure that you are covered on a plan beginning January 1, 2016.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Affordable Care Act is working and continuing to increase access to healthcare. Millions of people were able to obtain healthcare coverage through the Marketplace as of March 2015 and this has decreased the rate of those uninsured. Insurance affordability has increased also, with the eligibility to qualify for lower premium costs, the expansion of Medicaid coverage and additional plan options to choose from being key factors in this act.

While this open enrollment period is a significant time for those uninsured, it marks an equally important time for those who have previously purchased health insurance through the marketplace as well! If you are not satisfied with your current plan purchased for 2015 and would like to make a change, now’s the time to do so! During open enrollment you can review other insurance plans to see if another plan better matches your needs.

For those currently enrolled in marketplace plans, you may receive a letter from your insurance company explaining if the company will either automatically re-enroll you for 2016 coverage, or if you will not be automatically re-enrolled. If your insurance company plans to automatically re-enroll you for coverage but you would like to make a change, it’s important to review other policies during the enrollment period and take action to change it by December 15^thto ensure coverage beginning January 1^st.

Whether you’re notified that you’ll be re-enrolled in your current plan or not, you do have to update your expected income and household information for the 2016 coverage year. This ensures that your premium tax credits are correct and you will receive the appropriate coverage costs and plan options. A letter from the health insurance marketplace is also sent out to individuals currently enrolled that better explains the actions needed to receive the accurate premium tax credits for 2016.

Besides updating your own income and household information, be sure to take the time to review the different insurance plan policies and prices for the new 2016 coverage year as these do change. MSAA has resources that can help you in the decision making process with the My Health Insurance Guide and The Affordable Care Act and Multiple Sclerosis brochure that provides an overview of the insurance planning process and steps to help you PLAN ahead.

Sources:

https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/

https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace-deadlines/2016/

http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts-and-features/fact-sheets/aca-is-working/index.html

https://www.healthcare.gov/keep-or-change-plan/

Happy 50th Anniversary – Medicare Open Enrollment Begins

Posted on October 16, 2015 by MSAA

This year marks the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing into law the Medicare program. Since its inception July 30, 1965 the program has seen many changes. Medicare and Medicaid started as basic insurance programs for Americans who didn’t have health insurance, the programs have changed over the years to provide more and more Americans with access to quality and affordable health care.

Open Enrollment

You don’t need to sign up for Medicare each year. However, each year you have a chance to review your coverage and make changes. Most Medicare beneficiaries should receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from their existing Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan providers by September 30th.

Individual Medicare plans can change each year—things like cost, coverage, and which providers and pharmacies are in network. So it is important, that each year during the open enrollment period you dedicate some time to review your plan.

During this open enrollment period you can make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

You can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another; or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
And if you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during the general open enrollment.

Get Started

Visit the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan. With the Medicare Plan Finder, you can compare plans and learn about the coverage, benefits, and estimated costs for each plan. For further information and questions, contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Want to learn more about Medicare, or the different types of coverage options available? MSAA’s My Health Insurance Guide provides comprehensive, easy-to-follow information and resources for the MS community about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.

Need additional help?

Get personalized counseling and assistance in choosing coverage. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provide free, in depth, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance. Visit https://www.shiptacenter.org/ to locate the office nearest you.

Sources:
http://blog.medicare.gov/2015/07/27/medicare-and-medicaid-50-year-anniversary/
https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050.pdf

Insurance Open Enrollment is Fast Approaching

Posted on August 24, 2015 by MSAA

Open enrollment is fast approaching! November 1, 2015 marks the first day to enroll in a 2016 Marketplace health insurance plan.

During the 2015 open enrollment period 11.7 million people had enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan. While many of these enrolled individuals will continue with their selected plan, if you are unhappy with the insurance plan purchased for 2015, the open enrollment period exists to allow those who had previously purchased health insurance through the marketplace to make a change to their current plan. Maybe your doctor has changed, or you would like to try a new MS treatment. Searching for plans that match your needs can easily be completed using the Healthcare.gov Marketplace.

From November 1st, through January 31st 2016 individuals can make changes to their current plans. While the changes made do not take effect until January 1st, this provides individuals with the time needed to make a decision on which plan will work best for their needs.

For those who are new to the Marketplace and purchasing insurance for the first time, MSAA’s Health Insurance Guide, is a valuable resource aimed at assisting the MS community with understanding the many details surrounding today’s health insurance options. Using the PLAN Ahead model (Prepare, Look, Analyze, and Name), MSAA’s Health Insurance Guide provides a comprehensive overview of what should be evaluated when purchasing a plan.

Still confused about the Affordable Care Act, or how the Insurance Marketplace affects you? MSAA has created an informative webinar to better explain the process titled What You Need To Know About The Affordable Care Act. Additional webinars can be found within the MSAA Health Insurance Guide, including The New Insurance Marketplace and MS .

References:
http://kff.org/interactive/mapping-marketplace-enrollment/

Insurance Enrollment and the MS Community

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Samantha Schech

While the 2014 year slowly comes to an end and individuals start to make their end of year plans, there are still two important dates to keep in mind in regards to open enrollment for health insurance. For those who are uninsured, or who possibly want to make some changes to a pre-existing Medicare plan, open enrollment allows individuals to make changes without penalty.

Medicare open enrollment ends Sunday, December 7th. Up until this date, changes can be made allowing an individual to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or vice versa. A switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or to a plan that offers different drug coverage can be made as well. This is especially important to the MS community as medications can often change. If the doctor prescribes a medication that is not covered under a drug formulary, other drug coverage options can be explored that may be more suited to your prescription needs. To explore options, contact Medicare directly at (800) 633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov.

For more complex issues with Medicare, the Medicare Rights Center offers a helpline to answer your questions about insurance choices as well as Medicare rights and protections. You can reach the Medicare Rights Center at 1-800-333-4114 or visit www.medicarerights.org.

The Open Enrollment Period for individuals eligible to enroll in the Marketplace for a Qualified Health Plan for coverage starting in 2015 is now through February 15, 2015. Individuals can enroll in a plan in the Marketplace by visiting www.healthcare.gov, or by calling (800) 318-2596. These plans are available to those who are uninsured, losing insurance, or who would like to make a change to their existing plan. If you purchased a plan in the previous Open Enrollment period and were not happy with that plan, now is the time to review other options and make a switch if available.

For more information regarding insurance, MSAA’s My Health Insurance Guide is aimed at assisting the MS community with understanding the many details surrounding today’s health insurance options.

If you need health insurance…

Posted on March 19, 2014 by MSAA

Don’t forget that Open Enrollment for purchasing health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace ends this year on March 31st.

If you need health insurance and have not already visited the website www.healthcare.gov or called an Insurance Navigator at (800) 318-2596, do it now! Give yourself time to make an informed decision about the best options for you. Five million Americans have already enrolled.

Remember, once the 2014 Open Enrollment period closes, you will not be able to purchase insurance until 2015 Open Enrollment begins, unless you have a qualifying life event (such as the loss of a job or the birth of a new baby).

Need more information? You can also review MSAA’s website for important information about how the ACA impacts you.

If you have Medicare, get the information you need to know:

Posted on October 14, 2013 by MSAA

Tomorrow, October 15^th, is the first day of Medicare Open Enrollment for plan year 2014. The plan that you select now will impact your medical coverage and costs for an entire year. Don’t forget to tune in to our live Webinar tomorrow evening from 8-9PM EST for important information on Medicare Open Enrollment and specific tips for people living with MS.

To register for the Webinar, go to the following link: support.mymsaa.org/aca1

If you cannot attend the live program, don’t worry, you will be able to watch the archive and download the presentation slides from our MSi page after the live program: https://mymsaa.org/manage-your-ms/videos/.

This year, be prepared. Learn from Medicare experts who can try to help you understand what questions to ask and how to select your best options.

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