Month: December 2021

Medicare Open Enrollment Ends December 7

Affects Part D prescription plans and Advantage plans

Medicare open enrollment starts October 15 and ends December 7th for those who want to explore different Advantage plans or change a Part D prescription plan. This does not affect your regular Part A or B and if you have a supplemental, often called a medigap plan, it will usually go by your anniversary date.

Medicare Open Enrollment Period affects Part D prescription drug plans and Advantage Plans. Parts A and B are not affected and neither are MediGap supplemental plans
Medicare Enrollment Form – Open enrollment starts Oct 15th and ends Dec 7th

If you fit the profile of someone on Medicare, your mailbox and phone are full of marketing messages about Advantage plans. Why?

Advantage plans are a special kind of private insurance managed care. Medicare pays the insurer a contracted amount to take over the management of your healthcare payments.

Most Advantage plans are an enticing mix of marketing messages about lower costs, free money, extra services that Medicare does not provide. Also in the mix are the restrictions and the details about your annual out-of-pocket max.

I personally chose a supplemental Plan G, which is also private insurance. Your choice has to be right for you and it will depend on your own situation. Just know what you’re getting and how much it will cost.

Life Skill – Learn to RSVP

There’s a life skill you need if you ever go out to meet up with people or if you attend various activities. Learn to RSVP. Whether it’s an organization meet-up or a lunch dates with friends, your response or lack of one makes a difference.

How to RSVP

Responding to an email reminder of a social activity is as simple as hitting reply and saying “I plan to be there”. Done. How do you know if an RSVP is needed? Usually the email will say “Please let us know if you plan to attend”.

Why RSVP?

Why is it so important? Let’s look at a recent example. I belong to an interest group that meets monthly. The first organizational month, there were 19 people. The hostesses were interrupted just once to find another chair and expand the circle for an unexpected latecomer, but it was mildly irritating to try and get back on track.

Month 3 – now there are 39 members signed up. The lovely demonstration was interrupted 6 different times to find room and chairs for latecomers who were not expected. A simple RSVP by all of them would have meant that chairs were already in place. So simple.

Table for 2?

Another example is when 2-6 friends try to plan a lunch date. If the meeting is at a popular time for the restaurant, the number of people who will be showing up is critical. Will you be trying to cram 5 into a booth meant for 4? If only 2 actually committed, can you risk a two-top in the corner?

Choosing to respond is the simplest way to move through your social life. Please make it a habit.