Medicare open enrollment deadline is on Saturday
Dec 03, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The open enrollment window for Medicare is closing on Saturday and if you haven't applied but need to the medicare website is calling your name.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those 65 and up as well as some younger people with disabilities. Open enrollment started on October 15th for coverage that takes effect on January 1st. "That gives them one card that they can use for hospitalization, in-patient and out-patient services, prescriptions when they go to the doctor's office," said Jennifer Lyons from Fidelis Care.
This time is really for beneficiaries to make several types of changes to their coverage if they choose to. Lyons says there are a few things you should consider before enrolling, no matter the plan.
"The important thing is to understand what your needs are," she said. "You want to make sure that the plan you sign up for is going to be accepted by the healthcare providers that you want to see. You really want to look at the price and see what the whole picture is going to look like." That means comparing premiums and deductibles too.
If you don't qualify for Medicare, choose to change plans, miss the deadline, or don't have coverage options through an employer, Lyons says, you can shop around on the New York State of Health Marketplace. Open enrollment there runs through the end of January.
"You have a variety of options to choose from there because your needs might be different from my needs and my neighbor's needs," said Lyone. "So, there's a variety of options you can choose from."
Keep in mind, that many plans don't roll over. So, if you like your current plan, you still have to make that same choice again for the new year.