Don't Miss Your Medicare Annual Election/Enrollment Period Window!

Medicare’s Annual Election/Enrollment Period ends December 7. We’re already halfway there! Even if you’re satisfied with your current coverage, now is the ideal time to review your plan and ensure it still fits your needs for next year.

Insurance companies often change premiums, copays, drug lists, and provider networks each year. These changes can raise your costs or limit access to your preferred providers or prescriptions.

Reviewing your plan is especially important if:

• Your prescriptions have changed or increased in cost.
• You’ve had new health conditions or anticipate additional care next year.
• You’ve moved, or your preferred doctors or pharmacies may no longer be in-network.
• You want to see if a plan with better benefits or lower costs is available.

Even small plan changes can affect you significantly. This is your annual chance to make updates.

Understanding the Annual Election/Enrollment Period

The Medicare Annual Election/Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. During this time, you can review your current coverage and make changes that will be effective January 1 of the next year.

If you’re new to Medicare, here’s a quick overview of how it works: Reference: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/parts-of-medicare 

• Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice care.
• Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services, and medical supplies.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage): These plans are offered by private insurers and combine Parts A and B. They often include extra benefits like prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing.
• Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): This helps lower your medication costs and can be bought as a separate plan or included with a Medicare Advantage plan.

Being knowledgeable about each Medicare part can help you spot where changes might help you, such as lowering costs, improving coverage, or making your plan simpler.

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What You Can Change During AEP

​During the Medicare Annual Election/Enrollment Period, you have the flexibility to:

• Switch from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Join, switch, or drop a Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

Review your plan now, even if you've been satisfied in the past. This helps you avoid surprises like higher costs or lost coverage next year.

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Why It Matters to Review Now

Many people assume their current plan will continue to meet their needs, but annual adjustments can result in significant differences in cost and coverage.

For example, if a plan changes its drug list, your medications might no longer be covered. Or if the provider network changes, your preferred doctor could be dropped from the plan.

​Taking a few minutes now to review your coverage can help you:

• Avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
• Ensure your medications and doctors remain covered.
• Compare benefits and potentially find a plan that better fits your needs and budget.

Most importantly, your opportunity to make changes ends December 7. After that date, your current plan will automatically continue into the next year.

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How Desmond Insurance Can Help

At Desmond Insurance, we know Medicare can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Our 
experienced agents are here to guide you, answer your questions, and help you find a plan that fits your health needs and your budget.

Whether you’re reviewing your coverage for the first time or have done it before, we make Medicare simple. We’ll help you see what’s changed, compare plans side by side, and make sure you feel confident about your choices for next year.

​Contact us before December 7 to review your Medicare plan and ensure your coverage and costs meet your needs.

​Contact Our Agent:

​
Bob Fleckenstein
Licensed Insurance Agent
Desmond Insurance Agency
Phone: (859) 491-5100
Email: [email protected]

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For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and need additional communication assistance, please dial (859) 491-5100 TTY 711.

TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Services permit persons with a hearing or speech disability to use the telephone system via a text telephone (TTY) or other device to call persons with or without such disabilities.

To make using TRS as simple as possible, you can dial 711 to be automatically connected to a TRS communications assistant. It's fast, functional, and free. By dialing 711, both voice and TTY-based TRS users can initiate a call from any telephone, anywhere in the United States, without having to remember or dial a ten-digit access number.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the government or federal Medicare program.

This is a solicitation for insurance.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 5-8 organizations that offer 0-105 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.