You’ve Enrolled in a New Plan During Open Enrollment – Now What?
You planned ahead of time, shopped for the plan that fits your needs best, and successfully enrolled in a new Health Insurance Plan during Open Enrollment. Congratulations, we are so glad you are covered for the coming year! Most people who enroll during the Open Enrollment period will have their coverage start on January 1st, 2020.
When Will I Get My New ID Card?
As the first, real and tangible symbol of your membership, having your ID card in your possession provides a sense of comfort and security. If you enroll during Open Enrollment, you will likely receive your new ID card around the middle of December. When you receive your car in the mail, make sure you keep it in a safe place. You will want it for upcoming doctor appointments as well as the information on the card, including your policy number, policy details, and important dates.
I Haven’t Enrolled Yet! Do I Still Have Time?
Yes, you still have time. Open Enrollment for Medicare is from October 15th through December 7th for 2020 coverage. During this period you can make changes to various aspects of your coverage!
Prepare for Enrollment!
It’s wise to prepare and gather your essential information for your application, or before you make any changes if you’re automatically re-enrolled (Medicare). Some important things to gather would be:
- Social security number(s) for you and anyone else who will be on your plan.
- Tax filing information.
- Current health coverage information.
- Facts about dependents who you would like to cover.
An understanding or a plan for your medical needs for the year (Ex: If you are planning to have a baby or you need orthodontia, plan ahead by making these changes during enrollment)
It is also smart to have a list of any prescription medications to compare costs by plan, as well as physicians or networks you would like to retain or have access to.
Having these things prepared will make the enrollment process considerably easier and smoother, especially with getting help from a broker who may ask you some key questions to help you narrow down the best plan options for you.
I Don’t Have Medicare, When Is My Enrollment Period?
For Non-Medicare policies, your enrollment period has just begun! The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is from November 1st through December 15th 2019. You may decide you want to keep your current policy, or you may decide you want to make some changes, either for money saving purposes, or potentially to choose a different network. Some may just want to add on supplemental coverage for drug prescriptions.
Thankfully, there is no longer a tax penalty for being uninsured, but it’s still a good idea to have coverage. Open Enrollment only comes once a year, so if you find that you need urgent medical care mid-2020, you’ll have to wait for the Open Enrollment Period in late 2020 to gain coverage for 2021 unless you qualify for SEP. You may possibly qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you have any major life events, such as losing your health coverage, getting married, getting divorced, moving, having a baby, or adopting a child.
Find the full list of Special Enrollment Period Qualifications HERE!
You can enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) any time of the year, whether you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or not.
Typically, the Special Enrollment Period is 30 days from the qualifying event, so it’s important not to procrastinate if you are trying to obtain coverage through the Special Enrollment Period.
I Want to Review My Plan, Then Decide Changes, but I Don’t Know Where To Start!
It’s highly recommended to seek out the assistance from an experienced Health Insurance Broker for several reasons. A seasoned Health Insurance Broker will be able to guide you through the process of enrolling or reviewing your current Health Plan and help you understand both your current coverage details as well as thoroughly break down the options for changes or new Health Care plans that may be of greater beneficial use to you. It can also make the process of enrolling go a lot smoother, as an experienced broker will help you submit all the necessary documents in order to make sure you are covered for the following year during the Open Enrollment Period. Many times there are ways to take advantage of savings and lower your costs when you have someone knowledgeable in the current insurance products available.
Another aspect that makes working with a Health Insurance Broker extremely helpful, is there are unfortunately a lot of scams out there surrounding health insurance. Many are specifically targeting Medicare recipients, but there are a number of other types of misleading information that can affect any person seeking Health Insurance, which can leave you ultimately either without proper coverage or paying a lot more for coverage you aren’t receiving or using. It is important to understand the details of your policy so you can feel confident in your coverage for the following year knowing you are going to be covered for your medical needs.
BEWARE! Scam artists may try to get personal information by contacting you about your new card. If someone calls asking for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up the phone!! The new cards are free and Medicare officials have emphasized that they will never call a Medicare beneficiary about the new card.
Group Plans, Inc is a family owned, local to North Phoenix company providing Health Insurance Broker services to both the people of the state of Arizona as well as our local community since 1977. Striving to successfully manage risk and provide the best service so that you are happy with your coverages for years to come is the goal and way of life for Group Plans, Inc.
If you would like to book an appointment with one of our Brokers, please give us a call at 623-889-7600 or fill out the contact form below!