It's time for seniors to choose Medicare plans; here's how to compare options
As a physician, one of my greatest concerns is seeing patients compromise their well-being due to financial constraints.
The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP) runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 and is a crucial time for the more than 1.1 million individuals in South Carolina who rely on Medicare for their health insurance.
You need to start thinking about selecting a plan that aligns with your budget and adequately covers your health- care needs.
Here are key things to consider when choosing a plan:
Consult your physician about long-term health risks.
Prepare a list of your current medications to compare costs while choosing plans.
Confirm that your chosen health-care providers are in-network to avoid extra costs.
Evaluate your eligibility for additional benefits offered, such as dental and vision care, fitness programs, and allowances for healthy foods and utilities.
Look at the costs and ratings of each plan to find the highest quality care at the lowest cost.
The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov can help you compare plans and benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan. For more information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048).
Dr. Lily Pham
The writer is Humana's regional vice president of health services for South Carolina.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Here's how seniors can get information on Medicare plans, options
