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What should I do if I don't want to change my Medicare plan during the Medicare annual Open Enrollment Period?

Category: Living with Your Medicare Part D Plan
Updated: Oct, 30 2023


You do not need to do anything.  If your Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan is offered next year - and you make no enrollment decision - you will be automatically re-enrolled in the same plan starting on January 1st.

ReminderThe Medicare annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP or OEP) or Annual Enrollment Period  starts October 15th and continuing through December 7th of each year and during the OEP you will have the opportunity to change, drop, or add Medicare prescription drug coverage or Medicare Advantage plan coverage - and if you wish to keep your current Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or your Medicare Advantage plan next year, you do not need to take any action during the OEP.

Important Tip #1:  If your Medicare plan is not offered next year, then you may be without drug or extra healthcare coverage for the entire year. 

Each year, some Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans discontinue operations in certain areas - often called a Service Area Reduction.  As an example, over 1.3 million people are enrolled in a 2023 Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD) that will be discontinued in 2024.  Please remember that in late-September, your Medicare plan will send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter and will tell you whether your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan will be offered next year. 

Important Tip #2: If your plan is offered next year, be sure you know how your Medicare plan is changing.

Your current Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan can (and probably will) change every year.  Before deciding to stay with your current plan, please be sure that you understand the changes in your plan for next year.  Remember, many things can change in your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, including:
  • monthly plan premiums (may increase)
  • initial deductibles (may increase)
  • coverage limits (when you enter the Donut Hole)
  • prescription drugs that are covered (your formulary can change year-to-year)
  • Donut Hole coverage (aside from the Donut Hole discount, your plan may no longer provide supplemental Donut Hole coverage)
  • drug utilization management criteria (your medications may now be subject to Prior Authorization or Quantity Limit restrictions)
Medicare Part D plan and Medicare Advantage plan changes are outlined in your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter that you will be sent late-September or early-October.  Your ANOC letter will also provide a link to your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) document that provides over 100 pages of information about next year's plan coverage.


If you have not received your ANOC, please contact your Medicare plan using the toll-free number found on your Member ID card and request a copy of this letter.

Using our PDP-Compare and MA-Compare tools to see basic plan annual plan changes.

Another quick way to view the changes in your Medicare prescription drug plan (or PDP) is to use our online PDP-Compare.  To start, just select your state and then type in a portion of your Part D plan name - for example, you can type "Well" or "WellCare" for the "WellCare" plans to see changes just in your state's WellCare prescription drug plans.  (After entering the name, be sure to click on the "Search" button.

To see changes in all Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in your state, just choose only your state and click on "Search".

If you wish to see basic changes in your Medicare Advantage plan, then you can use our MA-Compare tool.  To begin enter your Zip or choose a state and county to see how all MA or MAPDs in your area are changing next year.

Here is an example link to PDP-Compare (you can choose your own state):
 
151206_PDP_Compare_IL.jpg
Here is an example link to our MA-Compare (you can enter your own Zip or choose a state and county:

151206_MA_Compare_44319.jpg






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Tips & Disclaimers
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  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
  • Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information on our site.
  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
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  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.