Life Changes and Your Medicare Benefits |
There are several life events that can impact Medicare benefits. The most basic of these is the death of a beneficiary. However, moving to a new home and changes in the prescription drugs you take should also be reported. When you have changes that could affect your Medicare, there are some things you should know.
If a spouse or parent dies, you must immediately report that to the Social Security Administration. If the person was on Medicare, make sure to contact a local office for help on filling out any paperwork. The process of settling final medical bills with Medicare can take up to several months.
Report any dramatic changes in prescriptions to the company you have coverage through. This can save time and frustration and extra calls or trips to the pharmacy. Each company has a list of drugs they will or will not cover and what you can expect to pay will be dependant on this.
When making a change to your coverage, it is important to do so in the proper time.
- Make your changes at the correct time. November 15 through December 31 is the best time to make changes. During this period Medicare beneficiaries can select a new health or prescription drug plan and make any other needed changes. You may make some limited changes from January 1 through March 31.
- Some changes may be made year round. When you first become eligible for Medicare you can enroll at any time. Other than that, the only exception to the limitations on when you can change your plan is for those who have moved out of the service area of their original plan.
When dealing with Medicare it is important to know what is going on. If you need help understanding your options, updating information or changing plans be sure to ask for it at your local Social Security office.
Questions for Your Attorney
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