{"id":131,"date":"2024-01-22T03:55:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T03:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scaadvisorsprd.wpenginepowered.com\/the-sc-midlands\/2024\/01\/22\/three-lessons-learned-during-aep\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T16:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T16:50:57","slug":"three-lessons-learned-during-aep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scaadvisorsprd.wpenginepowered.com\/the-sc-midlands\/2024\/01\/22\/three-lessons-learned-during-aep\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Lessons Learned During AEP"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Karen Blake<\/h2>\n

Blake Insurance and Financial Group<\/h2>\n

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The\u00a0Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)\u00a0is a period of time during which Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage.\u00a0The AEP runs from October 15th to December 7th<\/sup>\u00a0every year. During this time, people with Medicare can make changes to their health coverage which will go into effect on January 1st<\/sup>\u00a0of the following year. Changes that can be made during AEP include switching from traditional Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or vice versa), switching between Medicare Advantage plans, and electing or switching between Part D prescription drug plans. As a licensed Medicare insurance agent, here are three important things which I believe are important to know during AEP:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Review and Compare<\/h2>\n

Anyone who has a Medicare Advantage plan should review it every year during AEP because plan premiums and coverages can change each year. Changes in the rules and regulations of your plan can have an impact on your care and costs. \u00a0It\u2019s a good idea to compare other plans with your current plan because the costs, provider networks and services offered differ between plans. Also, new, more affordable Medicare plans may become available in your area. Reviewing all the plans available during open enrollment gives you a better opportunity of finding the best option for your needs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Know and Understand Your Options<\/h2>\n

If you are currently on original Medicare (with or without a medigap policy) and considering switching to an MA or MAPD plan, know how they differ and consider the pros and cons. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are a type of health insurance plan offered by private companies that have been approved by Medicare. They are an alternative to Original Medicare and include Medicare Part A (hospital coverage), Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and often Medicare Part D (drug coverage). MA\/MAPD plans are structured so that you don\u2019t need to add a Medigap plan. Most MA and MAPD plans offer additional benefits that aren\u2019t covered under Original Medicare such as dental, hearing, and vision care, and sometimes wellness programs. Some pros and cons to consider are as follows. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of pros and cons, and you should carefully consider your own needs and preferences when choosing a plan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/h2>\n