If you are 65 years old or older, you have been receiving lots of calls, letters, and emails regarding the Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 through December 7. What you may not know is that nationally, roughly 70% of Medicare patients do not review their plan during the open enrollment period. That can be scary and leave opportunities to discover unwelcome or unwanted changes in coverage when they visit a doctor, pharmacy, or other provider in the new plan year.

Another fun fact is that Medicare Advantage Plans have become the way that most Medicare Patients receive their Medicare benefits. Around 50% of Medicare beneficiaries chose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. Advantage Plans became popular because most offer benefits that are not covered by traditional Medicare.

This morning we are fortunate to talk with Trisha Witts from our local five-star advantage plan, PrimeTime Health Plan. PrimeTime is locally owned and when you call, you will be talking to a neighbor or friend to help you understand your Medicare benefits and options.

In this program you can get answers to the following questions about Medicare Open enrollment:

1. What is the Medicare Annual Election Period?

2. What happens if I miss the Annual Election Period?

3. Why is it important to review my plan options?

4. What is the difference between a Medicare Advantage Plan and a Medicare Supplement?

5. If I am on an Advantage plan and go on vacation, am I covered?

6. What is the difference between Medicare Part D and a Medicare Advantage Plan?

7. What is the donut hole and can I avoid it?

8. How can I sign up for Primetime Health Plan? Phone 330-363-7407 or 800-577-5804

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Thanks for listening today! We’d like to remind our listeners, if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsor Aultman Helath Systems. As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.

Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. I’m your pharmacist, Paul White. We’re glad you joined us. It’s the 10th Anniversary of our Health Matters Show and the 45th Anniversary of Medicine Center Pharmacy. Now we are featuring a program about Medicare’s annual open enrollment period which begins October 15. Before we begin, I’d like to thank our sponsors, Aultman Health System, Studio Arts & Glass, and Jenior Appraisals and Liquidations. Today Brad and I are broadcasting from our administrative offices and our guest is Mike Novelli, Sales and Client Retention Specialist with Aultcare.

Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 thru December 7. What you may not know is that nationally, roughly 70% of Medicare patients do not review their plan during the open enrollment period. That can be scary and leave an opportunity to discover unwelcome or unwanted changes in coverage when they visit a doctor, pharmacy, or other providers in the new plan year.

Another fun fact is that Medicare Advantage Plans have become the way that most Medicare Patients are receiving their Medicare benefits. In August of 2022, 48% of Medicare beneficiaries chose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. Advantage Plans became popular because most offer benefits that are not covered by traditional Medicare.

We are fortunate to talk with Mike Novelli, from our local five-star advantage plan, PrimeTime Health Plan.  PrimeTime is locally owned and when you call, you will be talking to a neighbor or friend to help you understand your Medicare benefits and options.

Tune in to learn more about these topics in this program:

• What is AEP when it comes to Medicare plans?

• What type of changes do beneficiaries make during AEP?

• What happens if someone would miss the timeframe to change during AEP?

• Why is it important to review plan options?

• What is the benefit of having an Advantage plan over Original Medicare A & B?

• Are there any disadvantages of having an Advantage plan over Original Medicare A & B?

• What happens if the doctor is not in the network of the Advantage plan?

• What happens if anyone is on an Advantage Plan and goes on vacation?

• What if you have to go into the hospital while out of network?  Is that covered?

• If I join an Advantage plan and don’t like it, am I stuck with it forever?

• Explain prescription coverage or Part D coverage.

• What does it mean to find medication on a formulary?

Thank you to our guest, Mike Novelli, Sales and Client Retention Specialist with Aultcare.  We’d like to remind our listeners if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsors, Aultman Health System, Studio Arts & Glass, and Jenior Appraisals and Liquidations. As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy.

Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.

FDA-Approved White’s Premium Vitamins and Supplements

Content Link Block

Select a page and create a visual link to it. Learn more

Health Matters Podcast & Blog

Latest Posts

Health Matters is a weekly radio show sponsored by the Medicine Center Pharmacy on WHBC 1480 AM in Canton, Ohio. This episode pharmacists Brad White and Paul White discuss Medicare Open Enrollment Period with Mike Novelli, Vice President of Aultcare and Denise Fogle, PrimeTime Sales Representative with PrimeTime Health Plan.

It is the annual open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7.  One recent study shows that 9 out of 10 Medicare patients are NOT in the plan best suited for their needs.   It’s not surprising, because, frankly, what could be more confusing than selecting the best Medicare plan for you?  If you find Medicare confusing or are concerned that you aren’t in the best Medicare plan, our show today is dedicated to you.  We want to help you be that 1 in 10 patients who found the best plan to meet their needs.  Please join us today as we learn about Medicare Plans during Open Enrollment.

Some of the topics covered in this program:

1. What is AEP when it comes to Medicare plans?

2. What type of changes do beneficiaries make during AEP?

3. What happens if someone would miss the timeframe to change during AEP?

4. What is the benefit of having an Advantage plan over Original Medicare A & B?

5. What happens if my doctor is not in the network of the Advantage plan?

6. What happens if I’m on an Advantage Plan and go on vacation; am I covered?

7. What if I have to go into the hospital while out of network? Is that covered?

8. Can you explain a formulary and what it means to find your medication on a formulary?

9. The term donut hole relates to Medicare Part D Coverage. Can you explain what the donut hole is and if everyone falls into it?

10. What are some other benefits on PrimeTime Health Plan HMO-POS that you don’t get with original Medicare?

Zoom Video

Podcast

Thanks for listening today! We’d like to remind our listeners, if you suspect you have a medical issue, please contact your healthcare provider. Thanks to our sponsors Studio Arts & Glass . As always, we thank our listeners for joining us on Health Matters with the Medicine Center Pharmacy. Have a healthy week and we’ll see you again next Friday right here on News Talk 1480 WHBC.