As you prepare to make your health care decisions, you compare the premiums and benefits as closely as you can and the insurance companies. Medicare supplements were uniformed in 2006 so that a plan F is a plan F is a plan F. They are cookie cutter plans, so the question is, why wouldn’t I just purchase the least costly one and be on my way. The difference comes in how the insurance companies are contracted and reimburse the providers. Wellmark reimburses the providers from the least qualified to the highest qualified medical professionals nationwide, therefore, your access to providers when the unthinkable happens, through either an injury or illness are yours to have. This made a huge difference in our lives in 2008 and 2009 as my husband, Dan, utilized MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, after an inaccurate diagnosis in Des Moines. Fall/Winter 2013 Blue, a publication for Wellmark Medicare supplement members.

Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15^th through December 7^th. Just as a friendly reminder, you have the balance of this week if you want to make any changes to your insurance.

You can enroll or re-enroll in Medicare Part D Prescription Drug or an Advantage Plan with prescription drug benefits. This period of time is called the “annual enrollment period” (you will hear this referred to as the AEP) for an effective date of January 1, 2014.

Going into next year, the AEP is scheduled again October 15 through December 7, 2014. If you have any travel plans taking you away during that time, please contact us for arrangements. If you are turning 65 or becoming eligible for Medicare, you have your birth month plus 3 months prior, plus three months after, or a 7 month window in which to enroll. Once you are enrolled in your Medicare for an effective date of the first of the month of your birth month, we can schedule an appointment to make recommendations for your Medicare supplement and your prescription drug coverage so the dates coordinate and you have a timely period to dis-enroll from your current insurance.