For most of us, one of the first times you’ll become aware of Medicare is when you’re busy enrolling your parents or grandparents into it.
It’s that time of the year again as Medicare enrollment opens up between October 15 to December 7th. This is the best time to check all of the available options and make sure that you pick one that caters to your elder’s needs.
With all that said, we know just how difficult it can be to navigate through government insurance with all the requirements involved.
For best results, it’s best you start doing research now so that you’re ready when the time comes to explain everything to your parents and actually start the enrollment process.
- Learn About Open Enrollment
The good news is that there’s no shortage of information sources available to teach you more about what Medicare coverage offers.
However, we recommend going to their official website to get comprehensive information that’s well-organized and easy to follow. Make sure that you shop around for different options before you make the final choice.
According to experts, it’s not a good idea to opt for a generic Medicare plan that only covers standard healthcare benefits. For best results, consider Medicare Advantage programs which are often more comprehensive.
- Find Out What to Do During Open Enrollment
Advantage Plans which are also referred to as Part C and prescription drug coverage, offer the following:
- You’re allowed to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
- You can switch from different Advantage plans
- You can change from a drug prescription-free Advantage plan to a plan that offers prescription drug coverage
- You can join a Medicare plan that comes with a prescription drug coverage
- You can change from one drug plan to another
- Check What Your Parents Need
When deciding on which Medicare Advantage Plans 2021 are best for your parents, it’s important to find out what health conditions they suffer from and what their needs are.
- Do they require coverage for prescription drugs?
- What level of cover can they afford?
- Do they require benefits such as well-being check-ups, vision, dental and hearing?
- Do they have health conditions that necessitate disease management?
Make sure that there are no gaps in the overage that your parents are receiving, especially if they are taking costly medications or have a long-term chronic disease to take care of.
- Don’t Change Your Parent’s Trusted Providers
Many elderly people have had the same physician for decades and can’t be bothered to look for a new doctor or trust someone else with their health.
That’s why it’s important to check if your parents’ physician is actually part of the Medicare plan that you’re considering or they might end up paying out of pocket for consultations if that’s not the case.
For best results, look for a plan that your parents’ physician is a part of or make sure that they’re at least comfortable with the physician that is a part of the plan’s network.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it! Those are all the bases that you have to cover when the time comes to have the talk with your parents on Medicare Plans.