Open Enrollment for 2021 Medicare health plans run October 15 through December 7, 2020
NEW MEXICO- The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) wants to make certain that Medicare beneficiaries including older adults and people living with a disability as well as their caregivers, are aware of the upcoming fall open enrollment deadlines. From October 15 through December 7 of this year, people enrolled in the Medicare program can make changes to their existing coverage such as switch to a different Part D drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan, or drop their private plan and go back on Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan. Any changes made during Medicare Open Enrollment will go into effect on January 1, 2021.
“It is our goal and our priority to ensure New Mexicans receive the life-sustaining, most cost effective benefits for which they qualify, and we are here to help make that process as straightforward as possible,” stated Katrina Hotrum-Lopez, Cabinet Secretary of the Aging and Long Term Services Department.
“We look forward to serving this community and facilitating these critical services.”
Knowing that navigating the health care and medical systems can be an overwhelming and lengthy process, New Mexico’s SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) has trained benefits counselors available to make sure Medicare consumers are on the correct plan that works within their network of providers, covers their medication, and is affordable. All the benefits counselors can provide assistance in multiple languages.
The New Mexico SHIP benefits counselors provide objective, unbiased and reliable information about the Medicare program to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage. SHIP counselors can assist with reviewing Medicare coverage options, assist with Medicare plan comparisons, and screen people for important cost saving benefits such as the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) and the federal Extra Help program.
Starting October 1, 2020 Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers can call the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-432-2080 to schedule a Medicare open enrollment remote counseling appointment with a SHIP counselor. SHIP benefits counselors will be available to provide remote counseling including plan comparisons starting October 15 through the Open Enrollment period which closes on December 7.
When our SHIP benefits counselors talk with clients, they will ask the beneficiaries to set aside about an hour to go over their current coverage, their health care needs, medications and the Medicare coverage option that is best for them.
It is important for the public to know that Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug plans can make changes from year to year. People enrolled in Medicare who do not review their coverage this fall may end up in the wrong plan that does not meet their needs on January 1, 2021. People who do nothing this Fall may end up in plans that do not include their providers in their plan’s network, or their medications may not be listed as covered drugs. Medicare beneficiaries cannot afford to sit this one out. People who miss the Open Enrollment period may not be able to make changes later. We urge Medicare beneficiaries and their families to act and seek help this fall by calling the ADRC at 1 (800) 432-2080 and requesting assistance from SHIP.