As a reminder, the 2023 annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP) ends at midnight on Wednesday, December 7th.

During the 2023 AEP, you can still join, change, or drop your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan coverage.

After December 7th, most people will only have a limited opportunity to change their 2023 Medicare prescription drug plan coverage before next year’s 2024 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan AEP.

For an overview of all 2023 Medicare Part D plans or Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, you can use our Medicare Part D prescription drug plan finder (PDP-Finder) or  Medicare Advantage plan finder (MA-Finder) tools.

For example, here is our PDP-Finder showing all Medicare Part D plans available in Texas (you can change the state to see plans in your area): PDP-Finder.com/TX.

Here is an example of our MA-Finder showing Medicare Advantage plans available in ZIP code 15205, Allegheny County, PA (you can change the ZIP code to see plans in your area): MA-Finder.com/15205.

A few highlights of the new 2023 Medicare plan coverage:

• All Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will offer insulin coverage for a fixed $35 or less co-pay
• More Medicare Advantage plans will offer some Medicare Part B premium rebate or "giveback"
  
• Some Medicare Advantage plans will offer enhanced non-health-related Supplement Benefits
  

Need someone to speak with about your Medicare plan options?

If you find yourself overwhelmed with all your 2023 Medicare plan choices, you can always telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 and choose to speak with a Medicare representative. Once connected, ask the representative to help you evaluate your 2023 Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plan options.

Should you decide to change Medicare plans, a Medicare representative can also enroll you in any Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan directly over the telephone. The enrollment process only takes a few minutes and includes an enrollment confirmation number (that you should write down to record your proof of enrollment).

Staying with the same Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan into 2023?

No action is needed.  If you wish to stay in your current Medicare plan, you do not need to do anything during the 2023 annual Open Enrollment Period and you will be automatically re-enrolled into your existing Medicare plan for another year, along with any changes that your current 2022 Medicare plan may have made for 2023.

How is your 2022 Medicare plan changing in 2023?

Again, remember that your 2022 Medicare plan probably will have some changes in 2023 (new premium, new deductible, new drug coverage, new co-payments, different pharmacies, different doctors, different supplemental benefits) – so please be sure that you understand these changes – and be sure your Medicare plan is still being offered in 2023.

You can use our online 2022/2023 Medicare Part D plan compare tool (PDP-Compare) or 2022/2023 Medicare Advantage plan comparison tool (MA-Compare) to provide you with a quick overview of how any 2022 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan is changing in 2023.

What happens if my 2022 Medicare plan is no longer offered in 2023?

Important: About 1.45 million people are currently enrolled in a 2022 Medicare Advantage plan that is being discontinued in 2023.  If your Medicare plan is non-renewing or being discontinued in 2023 (and not consolidated or merged into another Medicare plan), and you do not join another Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan during the AEP, you could be without prescription coverage for all of 2023.

However, if your plan is being discontinued, you will be granted a Special Enrollment Period starting December 8, 2022 through February 28, 2023 during which you can join any available 2023 Medicare Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan.

Remember, if you use this Service Area Reduction Special Enrollment Period (or SAR SEP), your Medicare plan coverage begins on the first day of the month following your enrollment.  So if your 2022 plan is no longer offered in 2023, and you want coverage starting January 1st, you will need to submit an enrollment application on or before December 31st.

What can I do if I missed the 2023 AEP?

(1) You may be able to use a Special Enrollment Period to change your 2023 plan coverage outside of the AEP.

As noted above, if you are enrolled in a discontinued Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, you can use the SAR SEP to join a 2023 Medicare plan.

If you were affected by a hurricane or fire or other natural disaster, you may be able to use the Natural Disaster Special Enrollment Period that will allow you more time beyond December 7th to choose a 2023 Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan.

You can click here to read more about Special Enrollment Periods -- with other situations allowing you to change Medicare plans outside of the AEP (or visit: Q1FAQ.com/561).

(2)  The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) begins on January 1 and continues through March 31st.

During the MA-OEP, you will be granted another opportunity beyond the AEP to (1) switch Medicare Advantage plans or (2) drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare Part A and Part B, combined with a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).

Already looking toward 2024?

Sign up for our 2024 Medicare Part D Reminder Service. If you would like us to update you as information becomes available on the 2024 Medicare Part D program, please click here to sign-up for our free 2024 email Reminder Service.  And you can also click here if you would like to receive our periodic Medicare Part D Newsletter.  As always, your email information will not be shared with any third parties and there is no cost for our Reminder email or Newsletter.

Still have questions that we might be able to answer?

You can click on the following link and send us your question:
https://q1medicare.com/Helpdesk.php