Medicare Open Enrollment Till Dec 31

Senior citizens can sign up for Medicare or switch to Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage Plans uptil December 31. Open Enrollment happens each year between November 15 and December 31. During this period, seniors can switch plans.

The other time when seniors can switch plans is at the age of 65 when they become eligible for Medicare for the first time. There is an option to choose straight Medicare or from among Medicare’s managed plans.

Seniors can choose a doctor with the straight Medicare plan. In the managed care plans, seniors get a chance to choose from among a network of doctors. They may not necessarily get a doctor of their choice.

Managed care plans are also known as Medicare HMO’s. They gained disrepute in the mid 1990’s. The reason for this was that many of them did not do what was promised. Also not many docotrs were willing to participate in this plan. Only three to four Medicare HMO’s survived this.

Each individual will have a unique plan that is best suited for them. People who make frequent medical visits benefit most from managed care plans.

Thre have been several Medicare and senior homecare scams in the last few years. Medicare is billed for ailments that are fictitious! One good way to find proper medical care and avoid hassles is to go by word of mouth references.