Medicare Plans
Medicare Mistakes To Avoid
Across Hunt County we see the same handful of Medicare errors, and the plan itself is seldom the problem. A missed deadline, a wrong assumption or a decision based on a mailer causes most of them.
Here's what to watch for.
- Some of these can't be reversed
- A single review catches most of them
- Missed deadlines cost more than plan choice
The big ones
Seven mistakes that cost Greenville seniors money
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1. Missing your Part B window
Without coverage from a job you or your spouse still has, putting off Part B leads to a penalty, and most people pay it for as long as they keep Part B. Try our Part B penalty calculator before you decide to wait. -
2. Going without drug coverage
Having no prescriptions today won't spare you the penalty. After your Initial Enrollment Period, 63 or more days in a row without creditable drug coverage adds a charge to your Part D premium for as long as you have drug coverage. -
3. Thinking your network hasn't changed
Plans renegotiate with doctors and hospitals each year. Check your doctors every fall, because last year's answer can change. -
4. Choosing on premium alone
A $0 premium plan that puts your medicines on a high tier can cost more by year's end than a plan with a modest monthly premium. -
5. Letting your Medigap window pass
Your one guaranteed-issue Medigap window opens with Part B and lasts six months. Texas has no yearly Medigap switching rule, so once it closes, insurers can ask health questions before approving you. -
6. Signing up from a TV ad
A national commercial runs the same pitch everywhere. It can't tell you whether the plan includes your Greenville doctor or Hunt Regional Medical Center.
7. Never reviewing your plan
The costliest habit is leaving a plan alone for years. Plans change every January 1, and a short check each Open Enrollment usually spots what changed.
Smaller ones
Smaller mistakes you can fix if you catch them
Some people add a stand-alone Part D plan while on a Medicare Advantage plan that already includes drugs, which can remove them from the Advantage plan. Others cancel a Medigap policy, thinking they can buy it back later, and then fail the health questions. And some never mention a spouse's coverage, so a Special Enrollment Period comes and goes without anyone noticing.
A licensed agent can help you keep track of details like these. New to Medicare? Read the Medicare overview and go through the Medicare checklist. You can also get free, unbiased counseling from HICAP at 800-252-9240.
Free review
See where you stand now
Think you may have made one of these slips already? A licensed insurance agent can go over your coverage, your dates and your prescriptions, then tell you what options are left. Ask for a callback during office hours, or call 903-395-5282.
Thanks, we have your request.
A licensed agent will call you during business hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:30pm CT. If you'd rather not wait, call 903-395-5282 now.
Think you've made one of these?
Many can be fixed when you catch them early. Call for a free review.