07/10/2025
Boo!
It’s October. You probably already noticed. You likely have clocked pumpkin spice back and Halloween gearing up. You may be watching football games and perhaps the window AC has come out of your window already. Personally, my delight is watching the trees change color.
And with all that, if you’re 65 years old or older, you may have taken note that Medicare Advantage commercials are back on TV, helping to signal and usher in the season of Annual Enrollment. This year, for many people, their plans are changing. And honestly, every year the plans (probably all of them) have some changes. CMS (the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services – the government organization that oversees these things) releases new regulations which are the impetus for many of these changes. Insurance carriers also survey their members to determine what benefits and services are being used and appreciated. And, of course, they adjust their plans to remain viable as a business.
Around the end of September and into October, Medicare Advantage plans send their beneficiaries an “ANOC” letter. ANOC stands for Annual Notification of Change. The letter outlines how your plan changes from the current year to the coming year. This letter is a great place to start reviewing your options for the coming year.
Once you’ve looked at the changes to your existing plan, consider your health. Has it changed since you decided on your current plan? Do you have any upcoming procedures? Do you have any new medications or changes to existing medications? Do you see any additional providers? Did you need to change your primary care provider (P*P)? What are your travel plans for the coming year?
With all of this in mind, I encourage you to work with your agent (could that be me?) to find out how to move forward into the coming year. For some people, remaining right where they are, with their current insurance plan, makes the most sense. For others, another plan may offer a better fit.
Finding the right plan isn’t a one-size-fits-all adventure. It’s all about figuring out what you need. The lovely thing about working with a real live agent is that they have typically studied the plans in the area and can help match your needs and wants with the available options. I’d like to tell you that we can find a plan to fit every one of your needs, and sometimes, maybe even often, that is the case. Other times, however, choices must be made to select the plan that gives you the appropriate mix of your preferences. Figuring it all out feels like an art and a science. I suppose it’s not exactly either an art or a science, but there is both logic and reason as well as finesse and personality that goes into the process of working through the options.
So happy October. As an agent, I know I am excited about all the possibilities and the challenges ahead. It’s the time of year that I get to help people move confidently forward with their health options knowing they have taken the reins and worked through the details and come up with what will work in their best interest. If you need someone to act as a guide and to walk beside you as you navigate your options, I hope you will think of me. It would be my honor to work with you.
One more thing, if you’re on a Medicare Supplement and thinking about moving to a Medicare Advantage plan, Annual Enrollment is your window of opportunity to make that happen.
Click here for all the ways to connect with me: https://insurance-bug.com/find-patti
• Not affiliated with or endorsed by the government or federal Medicare program.
• I do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently I represent 7 organizations which offer 39 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.
