5 tips for giving your Medicare Advantage plan an annual checkup

You know getting checkups like your annual physical and cancer screenings are an important part of staying healthy.

But have you ever thought about giving your Medicare Advantage plan a checkup?

Your health needs and health plan benefits can change from year to year. That’s why it’s important to review your plan every year to ensure it’s still the best fit. And the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) from October 15-December 7 is the perfect time to do just that!

These five useful tips can help you get started.

1. Review your coverage. Think about the services you used throughout the year and if your plan benefits met your needs. Check your plan details for the upcoming year to make sure the benefits you’ve enjoyed most are still covered.

It’s also a good time to ask yourself these questions:

Is my plan still available? Medicare industry trends and costs can change each year, which means health insurance companies may need to make changes to their offerings. If your current plan isn’t available in the coming year, now’s the time to shop and compare other plans.

Will my new medical diagnosis require increased doctor or specialist visits? If so, review your plan details and note any higher copays or other costs you could experience. Check out other plans to see if there’s one with low or no doctor/specialist copays to help offset the cost of more frequent visits.

Do I have upcoming health needs I know about? Maybe this is the year you’ve decided to get your hernia taken care of. Or it could finally be time to get that knee surgery you’ve been putting off. Whatever your health care needs, it’s important to consider any potential procedures and make sure they’re covered.

CDPHP® member extra tip! Log in to your online member account to see your plan details, available benefits, and more.

2. Review your prescription drugs. A health plan’s covered drugs often change from year to year. That’s why even if all your medications are covered currently, it’s critical to review your formulary (list of covered drugs) every year to be sure your medications are still on the list.

And if you don’t see your prescriptions, you may want to contact your provider to see if there are other options.

CDPHP® member extra tip! Check the online formulary for the most up-to-date listing of covered drugs.

3. Review your health care providers. Have you formed a great relationship with your doctors? Are their offices easy to work with and conveniently located? Then make sure they’re still part of your network!

CDPHP® member extra tip! Our plans allow you to choose from thousands of providers and most local hospitals to get the care you need. That means even if you change plans, you can keep seeing the same health care providers you use today.

4. Review your costs. Look at your premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums. Did you spend more than you expected over the past year? Maybe a new plan could save you money and still provide the same level of care.

5. Choose a plan that best fits your needs. Changing health plans can be overwhelming, so you may find it beneficial to go back to basics. Attend informational seminars, review plan offerings online, or lean on a Medicare rep to help you navigate the challenges of finding a new plan. If you worked with a broker last time you chose a plan, these trusted partners can help you again.

CDPHP® member extra tip! Access easy-to-use online tools to review premiums, benefits, and covered medications to find a plan that best fits your needs. If you’ve found a plan, you can enroll online. Our team is also here to provide one-on-one support if you’d like to speak with a Medicare sales representative.

There’s so much to think about when it comes to your Medicare Advantage plan. Don’t forget to use these tips to give your plan an annual checkup to be sure you always have the plan that best fits your needs!

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