Four Questions to Ask Before the Dec. 7 Medicare Deadline

People who have Medicare have until Saturday Dec. 7th to choose their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage in 2020. It is important to answer these four key questions in order to ensure you have the correct Medicare plan in place for January 1, 2019.

* Are my doctors in network?You can verify which hospitals or doctors are included in your plan’s network using online tools. You can check with a licensed insurance agent to see if a particular doctor or hospital is included in the plan’s network. They can also verify if there are any new patients.

* Are my prescription drugs covered?Original Medicare doesn’t cover all prescription drugs. However, most Medicare Advantage plans offer prescription drug coverage. You can also sign up for a Part D Prescription Plan. A licensed agent can assist you in finding the right medications and estimating the cost for each one.

* What new, innovative benefits are available?You can also get vision, hearing, and dental coverage if you are looking to be healthier. Some Medicare Advantage plans provide a gym membership. Virtual doctor visits are great for those who travel and appreciate technology. When a plan benefit is available, most Medicare Advantage plans include transportation to and from doctor appointments.

* What if I’m still working?You may be eligible to defer enrolling in Medicare if you or your spouse have employer-provided health insurance. After that, you will be able to enroll in Medicare for up to eight months without any late penalties. Find out more about Medicare coverage from your employer by talking to your employer.

The clock is ticking towards the Dec. 7 Medicare annual enroll deadline. But don’t forget that you are not the only one.

Use licensed sales agents and websites to get the most out of these resources medicare.gov www.humana.com/medicare. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (or TTY 1 877 486 2048) 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Or call Humana at 1-800-213-5286. (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8. p.m. local, seven days per week.

Y0040_GCHKND9EN_C