The Annual Enrollment “Game Plan”: My 4-Week Strategy for a Perfect Switch
My October Playbook for a December Win
The Annual Enrollment Period used to fill me with dread. Now, I have a simple 4-week game plan that makes it stress-free. Week 1 (Oct 15-22): I carefully read my “Annual Notice of Change” letter to see how my current plan is changing. Week 2 (Oct 23-30): I use the Medicare Plan Finder tool, entering my drugs and doctors, to compare my current plan with new options. Week 3 (Nov 1-7): I talk to my free SHIP counselor to discuss my top two choices. Week 4 (Nov 8-15): I confidently enroll in my chosen plan. This simple playbook turns panic into a plan.
How I Used AEP to Switch to a 5-Star Advantage Plan and Get $1,500 in New Benefits
The Upgrade That Paid Me Back
I had been on a “just okay” 3-star Medicare Advantage plan for years. It was fine, but nothing special. During this past Annual Enrollment Period, I decided to see if I could do better. I specifically filtered for 5-star plans on the Medicare website. I found a highly-rated plan that not only included all my doctors but also had amazing extra benefits. It came with a $1,500 annual allowance for dental work and a $50 monthly healthy food card. That upgrade is saving me a fortune and giving me better care.
The #1 Mistake People Make During AEP (Hint: It’s Doing Nothing)
The High Cost of Loyalty
My neighbor Frank had been on the same Part D drug plan for years. He liked it, so he just let it “auto-renew” every year. That was his mistake. This year, his plan dropped his most expensive heart medication from its list of covered drugs. Now he is stuck paying the full, thousand-dollar price out of his own pocket until the next enrollment period. He learned the hard way that the #1 mistake you can make during AEP is doing nothing. You must re-shop your plan every single year.
My Guide to Using the “Medicare Plan Finder” Tool Like a Pro During AEP
The Website That Does All the Work for You
The Medicare Plan Finder website is the single most powerful tool you have during Annual Enrollment. It used to confuse me, but now I’m a pro. I log into my secure Medicare account, which automatically loads my saved drug list. I then select my preferred pharmacy. The Plan Finder analyzes every plan in my area and gives me a personalized, ranked list showing the one with the lowest total estimated annual cost for me. It turns a week of confusing research into a simple, 15-minute, math-based decision.
How to “Break Up” with Your Bad Medicare Advantage Plan and Switch to a Better One
The Easiest Breakup of My Life
I was unhappy with my Medicare Advantage plan. The network was too small and their customer service was terrible. I thought switching would be a huge hassle. It was surprisingly easy. During the Annual Enrollment Period, I simply found a new, better-rated Advantage plan on the Medicare website and enrolled in it online. The act of enrolling in the new plan automatically “broke up” with my old one. I didn’t have to make a single awkward phone call. On January 1st, my new coverage just started seamlessly.
My Story: I Changed My Part D Plan During AEP and Saved $80 a Month.
My Annual Prescription Check-Up
My monthly co-pays for my prescriptions had crept up to over $100 a month. I thought that was just the price I had to pay. During the fall Annual Enrollment Period, I spent 30 minutes on the Medicare Plan Finder tool. I entered my drug list and was shocked. A different, 5-star rated Part D plan covered all my medications with much lower co-pays. I switched plans. My total monthly drug cost is now just $20. That 30 minutes of research is saving me almost $1,000 a year.
The “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) Letter: The Most Important Piece of Mail You’ll Get All Year
The Letter That Is Your Personal Early-Warning System
Every September, I get a thick envelope from my Medicare plan. It’s my “Annual Notice of Change,” or ANOC. I used to ignore it. Now, I treat it like gold. This letter is my personal cheat sheet for the upcoming enrollment period. It tells me exactly how my plan’s premium, co-pays, and, most importantly, its drug formulary will change next year. Last year, my ANOC warned me that my doctor was leaving the network. That one piece of mail gave me the crucial heads-up I needed to find a better plan.
Can I Switch from an Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare + Medigap During AEP?
The Path Back to Freedom (With a Big Catch)
Yes, you can absolutely use the Annual Enrollment Period to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. The process is simple: you just enroll in a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, and that action automatically disenrolls you from your Advantage plan. But there is a huge catch. If you are past your first year on Medicare, you will likely have to go through medical underwriting to get a Medigap plan. If you have health conditions, you could be denied. It’s a switch you must make with extreme caution.
My Guide to Vetting a “New” Advantage Plan That Just Entered Your Market
The Shiny New Object and My Detective Work
A brand new Medicare Advantage plan launched in my county this year. The TV ads promised amazing benefits and a low premium. I was tempted, but I knew I had to be a detective. Since the plan was new, it had no “Star Rating” from Medicare. I did my own vetting. I called their customer service line just to see how long I’d be on hold. I used their online tool to search for my doctors. And most importantly, I called my doctor’s office manager directly to ask, “Have you actually signed a contract with this new plan?”
The Unspoken Dangers of “Plan Hopping” Every Single Year
The Devil You Know vs. the Devil You Don’t
My friend loves to “plan hop.” Every single year during AEP, he switches to the plan with the absolute lowest premium and the newest “freebie.” Last year, he switched to a new plan to get a $100 grocery card, not realizing that his trusted cardiologist was not in their network. Now he’s scrambling to find a new heart doctor. It was a good lesson. While it’s smart to re-shop your plan every year, sometimes the plan that costs $10 more a month but that you know and trust is the better, more stable choice.
How to Check if Your Doctors Will Still Be “In-Network” Next Year
The Only Phone Call That Truly Matters
The “Annual Notice of Change” from my plan said all my doctors were still in the network for next year. I learned not to trust that 100%. The only way to be absolutely sure is to call your most important doctors’ offices directly. I called my primary care doctor’s office manager in November. I asked her a simple question: “I just want to confirm that Dr. Smith will continue to be in-network with the Aetna Medicare Advantage plan for the upcoming year.” Her “yes” was the only confirmation that mattered to me.
My Guide to Making Sure All Your “Prescriptions” Are Still on the Formulary
My Annual Pill Audit
The most important step of my Annual Enrollment Period is the “pill audit.” I don’t guess. I go to the Medicare Plan Finder website and I enter my exact list of medications, including the specific dosages. The tool then shows me exactly how each plan covers my drugs. It shows me the co-pay, any restrictions like “prior authorization,” and whether the drug is on a preferred tier. A plan might look great on the surface, but if it doesn’t cover the one prescription that keeps you healthy, it’s worthless.
The “AEP vs. OEP” Puzzle: When Can You Actually Make a Change?
The Fall Overhaul vs. The Winter “Undo” Button
I finally learned the difference between the two main enrollment periods. The AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) from October 15th to December 7th is the big one. It’s when anyone can make almost any change to their coverage. The OEP (Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period) from January 1st to March 31st is different. It’s an “undo” button just for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan. During OEP, you can switch to a different Advantage Plan or drop yours and go back to Original Medicare. It’s a second chance to fix a mistake.
How to Find a Good, Unbiased Broker Before AEP Even Starts
The Guide I Hired in September
The Annual Enrollment Period marketing blitz always overwhelmed me. I knew I needed a guide. In September, before all the chaos began, I started my search for an independent insurance broker. The key word was “independent.” This meant he was certified to sell plans from multiple different insurance companies, not just one. He wasn’t biased. He sat down with me, looked at my specific needs, and gave me an objective comparison of my best options. Finding him early made the whole process calm and rational.
My Story: The Year I Ignored My ANOC and Paid the Price
The Letter I Should Have Read
One September, the thick “Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) envelope arrived from my drug plan. I was busy, so I tossed it onto a pile of mail. I let my plan auto-renew. In January, I went to the pharmacy to pick up my main prescription. My co-pay had jumped from $45 to $150. I was shocked. I went back and found the ANOC. Sure enough, in dense print, it said they were moving my drug to a higher tier. That one unopened letter ended up costing me over $1,200 that year.
The “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP) That Lets You Change Plans Outside of AEP
The Escape Hatch You Can Use Anytime
I thought I was stuck with my Medicare plan until the fall enrollment period. I was wrong. I learned that certain life events trigger a “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP), which lets you change plans mid-year. When I moved to a new county, I was granted an SEP. When my plan lost its 5-star rating, I was granted an SEP. When I qualified for the “Extra Help” program, I was granted an SEP. Understanding these special situations is key, because they can be a powerful escape hatch from a plan that’s no longer working for you.
My Guide to Helping Your Parents Navigate the AEP Marketing Blitz
I Was My Dad’s Human Ad-Blocker
Every fall, my elderly father’s mailbox and TV are flooded with confusing and aggressive Medicare ads. He gets overwhelmed and anxious. I became his human ad-blocker. We have a rule: he doesn’t respond to any of it. Instead, we sit down together for one hour with my laptop. We go to the official, ad-free Medicare.gov website. We use the Plan Finder tool to compare his options based on facts, not on a flashy mailer or a celebrity endorsement. I am his filter, and it protects him from making a bad decision.
How to Spot a Deceptive TV Commercial or Mailer During AEP
The “Too Good to Be True” Test
The TV commercial showed a famous old football player promising a Medicare plan that would give me “free dental implants and put money back in my Social Security check.” It sounded amazing. It was also deceptive. These ads highlight the best-case-scenario benefits that might only be available in certain zip codes, or for people with very specific dual-eligible status. They never mention the plan’s restrictive network or its high out-of-pocket maximum. My rule is simple: if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
The Unspoken Power of “Confirming” Your Choice Before the December 7th Deadline
The Last Look That Brought Peace of Mind
I had done my research in October and picked a new Part D plan. I was ready to enroll. But I waited. In the first week of December, right before the AEP deadline, I logged back into the Medicare Plan Finder tool. I wanted to do one final check to make sure no new plans had become available and that all the data was still accurate. Everything was the same. I clicked “Enroll.” That one last look gave me the complete confidence that I had made the best possible choice with the most current information.
My Guide to Creating a “Plan Comparison” Spreadsheet
The Simple Chart That Made My Choice Clear
I was trying to decide between three different Medicare Advantage plans. They all had different co-pays and benefits. It was a confusing mess in my head. I took out a piece of paper and made a simple chart. I made columns for the things that mattered most to me: Monthly Premium, Specialist Co-pay, Maximum Out-of-Pocket, and Dental Benefit. I filled in the numbers for each of the three plans. Seeing the key data laid out side-by-side made the differences crystal clear. The best choice for me became obvious.
How to “Test Drive” a Plan’s Customer Service Before You Enroll
The Phone Call Before the Commitment
I had narrowed my choice down to two different Part D drug plans. They were very similar on paper. To break the tie, I decided to “test drive” their customer service. I called the member services line for each plan. I wanted to see how long I would be on hold and how knowledgeable and friendly the representative was. One plan had me on hold for 20 minutes. The other answered in two minutes with a helpful, kind agent. That simple test drive made my final decision easy.
The Unspoken “Secret” of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
The “Do-Over” I Was Grateful For
I made a hasty decision during the fall Annual Enrollment Period and chose a new Medicare Advantage plan. By January, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. My favorite doctor was not in the network. I thought I was stuck for a whole year. I was so relieved to learn about the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP). From January 1st to March 31st, I had a one-time “do-over” switch. I was able to leave my bad new plan and switch to a different Advantage plan that included my doctor.
My Story: I Made a Mistake During AEP. Here’s How I Used OEP to Fix It.
My January Mulligan
During the fall enrollment, I was swayed by a slick TV ad and enrolled in a new Medicare Advantage plan. In January, I went to my long-time cardiologist, only to be told he wasn’t in my new plan’s network. My heart sank. I had made a huge mistake. I learned about the OEP, my January “mulligan.” It’s a special enrollment period just for people who made a mistake with their Advantage plan. I was able to switch from the bad plan I had chosen to a different Advantage plan that my trusted cardiologist accepted.
The Guide to Checking the “Pharmacy Network” of a New Part D Plan
Not All Pharmacies Are Created Equal
I learned that choosing a Part D plan isn’t just about the drug list; it’s also about the pharmacy network. When I was comparing plans on the Medicare Plan Finder, I saw that some plans had “preferred” pharmacies. If I used a preferred pharmacy, my co-pays were much lower. My convenient, local grocery store pharmacy was a preferred pharmacy for one plan, but not for another. Choosing the plan that partnered with the pharmacy I already used saved me money and a lot of hassle.
How to Factor in a “New Diagnosis” When Choosing a Plan During AEP
The Diagnosis That Changed My Priorities
I had been healthy my whole life and was on a low-cost Medicare Advantage plan. Then, in September, right before AEP, I was diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune condition. I knew my priorities had to change. My new diagnosis meant I would need to see multiple specialists and take expensive biologic drugs. During AEP, I switched from my restrictive Advantage plan to Original Medicare with a comprehensive Medigap plan. My new health status made freedom of choice and predictable costs my number one priority.
The Unspoken Importance of Re-Evaluating Your Needs Every Single Year
The Person I Am Today Isn’t the Person I Was Last Year
Last year, my top priority was a low premium. This year, after a new diagnosis, my top priority is having access to the best specialists. The “best” Medicare plan is not a static thing. It changes as your health and your financial situation change. The Annual Enrollment Period is a powerful tool because it forces you to do a yearly check-up on your coverage. It’s a chance to make sure that the plan you have is the right plan for the person you are today.
My Guide to Attending a “Medicare Seminar” (And How to Spot the Sales Pitch)
The Free Lunch That Wasn’t Really Free
I got a flyer in the mail for a “free educational Medicare seminar” at a local restaurant. I went, and I got a free lunch. But I quickly realized it wasn’t purely educational. The seminar was being hosted by an insurance agent who only sold plans from one specific company. The entire presentation was designed to steer me toward his product. I learned to be wary of these events. A truly educational seminar will be hosted by a neutral party, like a SHIP counselor, not by someone with a financial stake in my decision.
How to Report a “Bad Agent” for Unethical AEP Practices
The Agent Who Pushed Too Hard
I met with an insurance agent who was incredibly pushy. He tried to get me to sign up for a plan without giving me time to think about it. He even suggested I lie about my income to qualify for a special plan. I knew this was unethical and illegal. I got his name and his license number. I then filed a formal complaint with my state’s Department of Insurance. Reporting bad agents is important. It protects other seniors from being taken advantage of by predators.
The Unspoken Anxiety of the “Final Decision” and How to Be Confident in It
The Moment I Clicked “Enroll”
I had done all my research. I had compared the plans. I had made my decision. But my mouse hovered over the “Enroll” button for a long time. The finality of the choice was nerve-wracking. What if I was wrong? To get over my anxiety, I took a deep breath and reviewed my simple comparison spreadsheet one last time. The numbers were clear. The choice was logical. I trusted my research, and I clicked the button. The confidence came from knowing I had made an informed decision, not an emotional one.
My Guide to “What’s New This Year”: The Biggest Medicare Changes for the Upcoming AEP
The New Rules of the Game
Every year, Medicare changes. This year, the big news was the Inflation Reduction Act. I learned it was making my shingles vaccine free and it was going to cap my insulin co-pays at $35. Knowing about these big, national changes before AEP started helped me evaluate my plan options. I knew that some of the new benefits were a matter of law, not just a feature of a specific plan. Staying informed about the big picture helped me make a smarter choice.
How to Help a Loved One Who is “Too Proud” to Admit They Need to Change Plans
The Gentle Nudge That Saved My Dad Hundreds
My dad is a proud man. He had been on the same drug plan for years, even though his co-pays were getting higher and higher. He didn’t want to admit he was struggling. I didn’t confront him. Instead, I just said, “Dad, the Medicare plans change every year. Can I just do a quick, free check-up for you on the computer to make sure you’re still in the best plan?” I framed it as a smart, financial check-up. When I showed him a different plan could save him $80 a month, his pride melted away.
The Unspoken “Loyalty Penalty”: Why Sticking with Your Plan Can Cost You Money
The Year My Loyalty Cost Me
I had been with the same Medicare Advantage plan for four years. I liked them, and I felt loyal. I let my plan auto-renew without shopping around. That was a mistake. I later discovered that a competing company had entered the market with a nearly identical plan, but with a much larger dental benefit and a lower maximum out-of-pocket. My loyalty to my old plan was costing me. It taught me that during AEP, loyalty doesn’t pay. Smart shopping does.
My Guide to Using Your State’s “SHIP” Office for a Free, Unbiased AEP Review
The Best Kept Secret in Medicare
The SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) is the best-kept secret in Medicare. It’s a free, government-funded counseling service in every state. Before I make my final AEP decision, I always schedule a phone call with my local SHIP counselor. I tell them which two plans I’m considering. They are not allowed to tell me which one to pick. But they can help me understand the pros and cons of each one. Their unbiased, expert guidance is the best final check I have before I enroll.
How to “Disenroll” from a Plan and What Happens Next
The Act of Leaving
I was on a Medicare Advantage plan and wanted to go back to Original Medicare. During AEP, I learned I didn’t need to formally “disenroll” from the old plan. My positive action of enrolling in a new, standalone Part D prescription drug plan sent a signal to Medicare. On January 1st, my Advantage plan coverage was automatically terminated, and I was back on Original Medicare. The key was to understand that enrolling in a new, competing plan is the action that triggers the disenrollment from the old one.
The Unspoken Complexity of D-SNP Plans During AEP
The Plan for Duals Has Its Own Rules
As a “dual eligible” for both Medicare and Medicaid, I am in a special type of Advantage plan called a D-SNP. The rules for me during AEP are a little different. While I can use the fall AEP to switch plans, I also have a Special Enrollment Period every quarter. This means I’m not locked into my choice for a full year. If my D-SNP makes a change I don’t like in April, I can switch to a different D-SNP in July. It’s an extra layer of flexibility and protection.
My Guide to Making a “What If” List of Future Health Needs
Preparing for a Future I Can’t See
When I’m choosing a plan during AEP, I don’t just think about my health today. I make a “what if” list. What if I get diagnosed with diabetes next year? What if I need a knee replacement? I then look at the plans through that lens. I check to see if the best endocrinologists and orthopedic surgeons in my area are in the network. I look at the co-pay for major surgery. Choosing a plan based on my potential “what ifs” helps me prepare for a future I cannot predict.
How to Ensure Your “Preferred Hospital” is in Your New Plan’s Network
The Hospital That Was My Non-Negotiable
I have a complex heart condition, and my entire team of doctors is at one specific hospital. When I was shopping for a new Medicare Advantage plan during AEP, this was my only non-negotiable. I didn’t just trust the plan’s online directory. I called the hospital’s main billing office directly. I asked them a simple question: “I am considering enrolling in the XYZ Advantage plan. Can you please confirm that the hospital is a participating, in-network provider for that specific plan for the upcoming year?” Their “yes” was my green light.
The Unspoken “Cooling Off” Period: Can You Change Your Mind?
The Buyer’s Remorse I Didn’t Have to Live With
I enrolled in a new Medicare Advantage plan during AEP in November. In December, I started to have second thoughts. I got buyer’s remorse. I learned that I wasn’t locked in yet. I could still change my mind anytime before the December 7th deadline. I was able to go back into the Medicare website, disenroll from the plan I had just chosen, and enroll in a different one. As long as you act before the deadline, your last choice is the one that counts.
My Guide to the “First Look” Period in Early October
My Sneak Peek at the New Plans
The official start of AEP is October 15th. But the Medicare Plan Finder tool goes live with the next year’s plan information on October 1st. I use this two-week “first look” period to do all my research without any pressure. I can browse the new plans, compare the formularies, and see how the costs have changed. By the time October 15th rolls around, I’ve already done all my homework. I’m ready to enroll, and I’m not scrambling to figure things out.
How to “Stack Rank” Your Top 3 Plan Choices
The Good, Better, and Best for Me
The Medicare Plan Finder tool showed me that three different Part D plans would have a low total cost for me. To make my final decision, I “stack ranked” them. Plan A had the lowest premium, but used a mail-order pharmacy I didn’t like. Plan B had a slightly higher premium, but used my favorite local pharmacy. Plan C was in the middle. I decided that the convenience of my local pharmacy was worth an extra $5 a month. I ranked Plan B as my #1 choice. This simple ranking helped me prioritize what mattered most.
The Unspoken Power of a “Fresh Start” with a New Health Plan
The New Year, The New Plan, The New Me
I had been battling with my old Medicare Advantage plan all year. They had denied a procedure and their customer service was terrible. The whole experience had left a bad taste in my mouth. During AEP, I switched to a new, highly-rated plan from a different company. On January 1st, it felt like a true “fresh start.” I had a new card, a new company, and a new sense of hope. The psychological benefit of leaving a bad plan behind and starting fresh was a powerful and unexpected perk of AEP.
My Guide to Understanding the “New” Value-Added Benefits Being Offered
The Dental, Vision, and Donut Perks
Every year, the Medicare Advantage plans offer new “value-added benefits” to attract members. This year, the hot new benefits in my area were a larger dental allowance, a free quarterly “healthy food” card for the grocery store, and even a new plan that offered a rebate on my Part B premium. It’s important to read the fine print on these perks, but for the right person, they can add up to significant real-world value. I always compare these “freebies” when I’m making my final AEP decision.
How to Make Sure Your Switch Was “Processed” Correctly by Medicare
The Confirmation I Waited For
I switched my Part D plan during AEP. In late December, I started to get nervous. How did I know the switch had actually gone through? I logged into my secure account on the Medicare.gov website. On my dashboard, it clearly showed my current plan information and my new plan information, with a start date of January 1st. Seeing it there, in black and white, on the official government website was the final confirmation I needed. It gave me peace of mind that my switch had been processed correctly.
The Unspoken Frustration of the “Endless” Junk Mail and Phone Calls
The Onslaught of October
From the moment October 1st hits, my mailbox is stuffed with a forest of glossy Medicare mailers. The TV commercials are endless. And my phone rings off the hook with calls from agents. The marketing blitz during AEP is overwhelming and frustrating. My strategy is to just opt out of all of it. I throw the mail directly into the recycling bin. I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t recognize. And I make my decisions based only on the neutral, ad-free information from the official Medicare.gov website.
My #1 Tip for a Stress-Free Annual Enrollment Period
Don’t Procrastinate.
If I could give just one tip for a stress-free AEP, it would be this: do not wait until the first week of December. The deadline is December 7th, but the pressure and the hold times for customer service get worse and worse as it approaches. I do all my research in October. I make my decision in November. I never let it get to the last minute. By starting early, the process is calm, rational, and I have plenty of time to get help if I need it. Procrastination is the enemy of a good decision.
How to Celebrate Making a Smart, Empowered Healthcare Decision
The Small Celebration of a Big Decision
After I clicked “Enroll” on my new Medicare plan, after all the research and the comparison, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. I had taken control of a complex part of my life and made a smart, empowered decision for myself. I celebrated in a small way. I took my wife out to dinner. We raised a glass to another year of good health and good coverage. It’s important to acknowledge the hard work of being an informed healthcare consumer and to celebrate the peace of mind that comes with it.
My Story: The Year I Saved My Neighbor from a Terrible AEP Choice
The Ad That Almost Fooled My Friend
My neighbor, Dave, was about to sign up for a new Medicare Advantage plan he saw on a TV commercial. He was excited about the “free dental” it promised. I told him to wait. We sat down at his computer and went to the Medicare Plan Finder. We discovered that while the plan did have a dental benefit, his trusted cardiologist was not in their network. He would have had to find a new heart doctor. He was so grateful. He ended up choosing a different plan that kept his doctor. I might have saved him from a terrible mistake.
The Unspoken Long-Term Financial Impact of Your AEP Decision
The Choice That Compounds Over Time
Your choice during the Annual Enrollment Period isn’t just a decision for next year. It’s a financial decision that compounds over time. Saving $50 a month on prescription co-pays might not seem like a lot, but over a decade, that’s $6,000. Avoiding a high-deductible plan that could expose you to a $5,000 hospital bill can be the difference between a stable retirement and a financial crisis. Every AEP is a chance to optimize your finances and protect your long-term financial health, not just your physical health.
The Ultimate AEP “Battle Plan” for October 15th – December 7th
My 8-Week Campaign for Better Coverage
I think of the AEP as my annual, 8-week “Get Better Coverage” campaign. Weeks 1-2: Review my ANOC and gather my drug and doctor list. Weeks 3-4: Use the Medicare Plan Finder to do my deep-dive research and create a comparison spreadsheet of my top 3 options. Weeks 5-6: Talk to my SHIP counselor and my key doctors’ offices to confirm network status. Weeks 7-8: Make my final decision and enroll, well before the December 7th deadline. This structured battle plan eliminates all the stress and last-minute panic.
Why AEP is Your Annual “Superpower” as a Medicare Beneficiary
The One Time of Year I’m in Charge
For most of the year, I am just a patient in the healthcare system. But during the Annual Enrollment Period, I have a superpower. I have the power to “fire” my insurance company if I’m not happy. I have the power to shop for a better deal. I have the power to choose the plan that best fits my needs and my budget. The AEP is our annual chance to be powerful, informed consumers. It’s the one time of year when we are truly in the driver’s seat of our own healthcare.