ADVERTORIAL
Time is running out:
3 Key Items to Consider Before the Dec. 7
Medicare Enrollment Deadline
Humana New York Medicare President
Caribbean Life, NOVEMBER 20-26, 2020 9
By Julie Mascari
In a year filled with unforeseen challenges
and important decisions, people with
Medicare have through Monday, Dec. 7
to select their Medicare Advantage or
Prescription Drug Plan coverage for 2021.
To ensure you have the right Medicare plan
for you in place come January 1 of next
year, it’s important to focus on these three
key topics:
• Navigating plan options during
COVID-19 – Traditionally, the annual
Medicare Advantage and Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan open enrollment
period offers opportunities for in-person
educational events and one-on-one
meetings with licensed sales agents. This
year, you can safely access the resources
you need to choose the best plan for you,
online or by phone. The Medicare Plan
Finder is a great place to start.
• Doctors in network, prescription drugs
covered? As you connect with a licensed
sales agent or research information online,
remember to confirm which doctors and
hospitals are in a plan’s network. If you
have a preferred physician or health care
facility, a licensed health insurance agent
can help you see if a specific doctor or
hospital is in a plan’s network and taking
new patients.
Although Original Medicare does not
cover most prescription drugs, many
Medicare Advantage plans include
prescription drug coverage, or you can
sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug Plan
separately. A licensed sales agent can look
up the medications you would like covered
and help you estimate what the cost of
each drug would be on a plan.
• New, innovative benefits – Beyond
vision, hearing and dental coverage, if you
aim to become healthier, look for fitness
program benefits as many Medicare
Advantage plans include them. If you are
comfortable using technology, access to
virtual doctor visits is broadly available
and enables you to seek care through
your phone or computer, without having
to leave home. Some Medicare Advantage
plans offer benefits to help address the
COVID-19 pandemic including offering
home-delivered meals for members with
a COVID diagnosis.
As we approach the Dec. 7 Medicare
annual enrollment deadline, remember
you’re not alone. Key resources are
available including licensed sales agents
and websites such as medicare.gov and
www.humana.com/medicare. You can
also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-
4227) (or TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, or call Humana
at 1-800-213-5286 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. local time seven days a week.
/medicare
/medicare.gov
/medicare
