NEWS

Medicare Announces Open Enrollment, Scam Awareness

Oct 21, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that 2021 Medicare Open Enrollment is officially open and will run through December 7, 2020.

More than 60 million people with Medicare can review health and drug plans, and make changes to their healthcare coverage for next year, based on their financial and medical needs, from the comfort of their homes.

As part of this year’s open enrollment, CMS also reminds people with Medicare to get their flu shot, beware of open enrollment scams, and seek virtual assistance if they need it to enroll in a plan amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

During Open Enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries can compare coverage options like Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and choose health and prescription drug plans for 2021. Medicare health and drug plan costs and covered benefits can change from year-to-year. CMS urges Medicare beneficiaries to review their coverage choices and decide on the options that best meet their health needs. Over the past three years, CMS has made it easier for seniors to compare and enroll in Medicare coverage. The redesigned Medicare Plan Finder makes it easier for beneficiaries to:

  • Compare pricing between Original Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies;
  • Compare coverage options on their smartphones and tablets;
  • Compare up to three drug plans or three Medicare Advantage plans side-by-side;
  • Get plan costs and benefits, including which Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits;
  • Build a personal drug list and find Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage that best meets their needs.

Finally, CMS urges people with Medicare to practice safety measures to guard against identity theft during open enrollment. Beneficiaries should not give their Medicare card or Medicare number to anyone except their doctor or people they know should have it. CMS removed Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards last year to reduce fraud and protect beneficiaries from identity theft. Even with this change, people with Medicare should guard their Medicare card like they would a credit card.

They should also check their Medicare claim summaries for errors and questionable bills and report fraud to Medicare’s toll-free customer service center at 1-800-MEDICARE or online.