Our Medicare Annual Enrollment Checklist helps you choose the best Medicare plan to meet your unique needs and budget. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs every year between October 15 and December 7.

Here are our 7 steps to getting prepared for this year's Annual Enrollment.

1. Current Providers List

Your list should include all your current healthcare providers: Doctors (both primary care physician and specialists), hospitals, clinics, labs, nursing homes, pharmacies, medical equipment suppliers, and anyone else you rely on for medical treatment.

2. Current Prescription List

List all prescription medications you take, including dosage, as well as whether they are brand or generic.

3. Review the Annual Notice of Change

Medicare requires all plan providers to send beneficiaries an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Part D plan, you should receive this document before AEP begins. The ANOC lists plan changes for the coming year, including costs, network, service area, and coverage. It is one of the most important healthcare documents you'll receive every year.

Plans nearly always have changes from year to year. Costs, provider networks, service areas, and drug formularies are the most likely areas for changes.

4. Review Your Current Coverage

Comparing the ANOC to the provider and prescription lists you created earlier lets you know whether your current coverage will still meet your needs next year. These documents represent the only communication you'll receive about plan changes, so do not ignore them.

Questions to ask about your plan include:

• Does it meet projected healthcare needs?
• Does the network include your providers?
• Do your providers, including specialists, accept your plan?
• Does the plan's drug formulary include your prescriptions?
• If you have secondary coverage, does the plan align with it?

Refer to the lists you created in the first three steps to answer these questions.

5. Does Your Current Coverage Fit Your Budget?

You can expect costs to change every year – and not always for the worse. Many MA plans see cost reductions from year to year. At the same time, your budget requirements may have changed.
Consider the full cost of the plan, not just the monthly premium. Deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance all play a role in total plan cost. In addition, look at your plan's maximum out-of-pocket spending for the year.

6. Compare Plans

Even if your current plan meets your needs, it's always a good idea to compare your plan options. That's because ALL plans change every year, not just yours. Refer to items 4 and 5 above when reviewing plan options.

7. Talk to a Licensed Insurance Agent

If you work with a licensed insurance agent – like the ones at ClearMatch™ Medicare – you can feel confident that we will help you find the right plan for you. We partner with a wide range of Medicare carriers, which means we can find you the best plan to fit both your healthcare needs and your budget. And all without costing you a penny. Plus, if you're already in the right plan, we'll tell you! Call us today to get started.