By Jason D. Philippe, MD
Medicare Open Enrollment: The Next Few Weeks Can Change Your Life
If you’re on Medicare, the next few weeks can change your life. It’s Medicare Open Enrollment, and at Millennium Physician Group our physicians and care teams lead the nation in the quality of care we deliver to patients of Medicare age. Studies show those who are uninsured or underinsured are less likely to take advantage of preventive services and more likely to have poorer health outcomes, so we specialize in all the preventive care proven to lead to healthier outcomes.
If you’re 65 or turning 65, you might be missing out on important health benefits, and Medicare Open Enrollment is the perfect time to evaluate your healthcare needs with your primary-care provider. There are a lot of choices, and it can be confusing, but your primary-care provider knows your medical history better than anyone and should be one of your first stops when it comes to discussing your needs.
Some of the top things to remember when preparing to take part in Medicare Open Enrollment are:
1. Know the dates. Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. This is when you can join, switch, or drop your Medicare health plan or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C).
2. Know the network. Make sure your preferred doctors and hospitals are in your plan’s network. Don’t assume they are and don’t wait until after you’ve enrolled to check. If your primary-care provider and specialist are not on your plan, you may end up paying higher out-of-network costs to see them or you may have to choose a new primary-care provider or specialist.
3. Learn the lingo. Understanding what terms like premium, co-insurance, and deductible mean can help you be more confident when comparing coverage and making decisions. Our website YourMedicareConnect.com reviews some of the most common Medicare lingo and the official Medicare website Medicare.gov has a complete and most current list of terms and meanings.
4. Make an appointment to see your primary-care provider to discuss your healthcare priorities. Medicare plans center on preventive services, which is what your relationship with your primary-care provider is all about. Together, we can look at last year’s medical expenses and assess your needs.
There’s a lot of information out there, and we care about the health of our patients and the community, so Millennium created our Medicare Connect program to connect you to the right Medicare resources and partners. Remember, you do have a choice when it comes to Medicare coverage. If you’re a Millennium patient and have questions about your Medicare coverage, contact our Medicare Navigator Olivia Pierrelouis at Olivia.Pierrelouis@mpgus.com or 866.674.6880. You can also visit YourMedicareConnect.com for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Millennium Physician Group Jason Philippe, MD, Family Medicine
6450 38th Ave N, Ste 300, St. Petersburg
727.655.9850 • MillenniumPhysician.com