Helping Your Family with Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare is health insurance for older people in the U.S. It can be confusing, especially during the annual open enrollment period. At Drexel & Co. Financial Planning, we want to help you support your loved ones in making the right choices for their health care.

Why It Matters

Health insurance can be tricky, and it’s important to make good decisions. Jason Resendez, president of the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), says, “You can help your family make good choices about their health care.”

Four Tips to Help with Medicare Open Enrollment

1. Be Prepared with Empathy

Get ready to make the process easier and show understanding:

• Learn About Medicare: Start with the “Medicare & You” handbook from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• Avoid Common Mistakes: Know the common mistakes people make so you can avoid them.
• Use Medicare.gov: Log in to their Medicare account to see their current coverage and compare plan options. If they don’t have an account, help them set one up.
• Be Patient and Kind: Understand their feelings and help them manage their stress. Listen to them and show you care.

2. Know Their Needs

To pick the right Medicare plan, you need to know their health needs:

• Do they want to keep their current doctor?
• Is that doctor in the plan’s network?
• Do they need special care?
• What medicines do they take?
• What’s their favorite pharmacy?

This information helps compare plans and make sure everything they need is covered.

3. Ask for Help

If you feel overwhelmed, there are resources to help:

• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP): Offers free help about enrollment and coverage options.
• Area Agencies on Aging: Connect older adults to services like Medicare and Medicaid.
• Financial Advisors: Get advice from a trusted financial advisor.

4. Watch Out for Scams

Protect your loved ones from scams:

• Medicare will never ask for personal information over the phone or email. If someone calls saying they are from Medicare, hang up.
• Be careful with mail: Only respond to letters from the existing plan, Medicare office, or government agencies.

Let Us Help You

At Drexel & Co. Financial Planning, we’re here to help you and your family with Medicare open enrollment. Contact us for advice and support to make the best choices for health care.