Medicare’s annual enrollment period is around the corner, running from October 15 to December 7 each year. This is the time when Medicare beneficiaries can decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. They can switch from a traditional Medicare plan to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa, as well as changing from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
However, recent survey data suggests that nearly half of Medicare beneficiaries are unable to distinguish between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, while 63% say they are overwhelmed making health decisions. This is not surprising in a system as complicated and fragmented as ours, involving numerous doctors, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies and public and private insurers, all of which make it difficult for patients to select, pay for and get the most out of their care. Yet selecting appropriate health care after losing employer-sponsored coverage is vitally important, especially with the growing medical bills that come with age.
