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Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey reminds Medicare beneficiaries that the Open Enrollment Period is coming up and suggests that recipients compare plans and make necessary changes during that period. 

The Open Enrollment Period began on Oct. 15 and runs for eight weeks to give you enough time to review and make changes to your Medicare coverage. Changes must be made by Dec. 7 to guarantee your coverage will begin without interruption on Jan. 1, 2023. 

“Medicare plans and prices change,” Commissioner Causey said. “It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to take  advantage of the Open Enrollment Period by contacting local Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)  counselors to save money, improve your coverage or both.” 

Make sure you contact your local SHIIP counselor before deciding about coverage because you may be able to receive more affordable and better Medicare health and/or drug plan options in your area. For example, even if you are satisfied with your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, there may be another plan in your area that covers your health care and/or drugs at a better price. 

SHIIP is a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance and offers free, unbiased information about  Medicare, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance and other health  insurance issues. In addition to helping Medicare beneficiaries compare and enroll in plans during the Open  Enrollment Period, SHIIP counselors can help people find out if they are eligible for Medicare cost savings programs. 

 

Here are some of the ways to review and compare plans available for 2023: 

 

• Get one-on-one help from SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, by calling 1-855-408-1212, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan to compare your current coverage with all of the options available in your area, and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change. Review the Medicare & You handbook. It was mailed to people with Medicare in September. 
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to find out more about your coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. 

For more information about SHIIP and the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, call 1-855-408-1212 or visit  www.ncshiip.com. 

SHIIP counselors are not licensed insurance agents and they do not sell, endorse or oppose any product, plan or  company. If you have questions about your specific plan, we encourage you to contact your insurance agent or the insurance company. 

 

Submitted by Joshua Kennedy