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Humana: Tips on Medicare open enrollment season

Posted at 8:01 AM, Nov 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-13 12:03:30-05

Humana is a paid advertiser of Sonoran Living.

What You Need to Know This Medicare Enrollment Season

It's that time of year when people with Medicare review their health insurance choices and enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan for the coming year.

People typically have a lot of questions as they research their Medicare options, which primarily include Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug and Medicare Supplement plans, before finding the plan that best fits their needs.

Here are some commonly asked questions:

When is the annual enrollment period to choose a Medicare plan for 2019?
The Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period takes place from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2018, for coverage that takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.

Do I have to re-enroll in Medicare every year?
You don't need to sign up for Original Medicare each year. However, you should review your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage annually, since Medicare plans and personal circumstances can change each year. If you make no changes, you'll typically automatically be re-enrolled in your same medical or prescription plan for 2019, if that plan has been renewed.

Does Medicare include coverage for my prescription drugs?  
Original Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs. Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, or you can sign up for a Part D Prescription Drug Plan separately to go along with Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement Plan. A licensed agent can look up your medications and tell you what the cost of each drug would be on a plan.

How do I find out if my doctors, hospitals and specialists are in my Medicare Advantage provider network?
Most Medicare Advantage plans offer easy-to-use online tools to help you find doctors and hospitals that are in the plan's network. A licensed agent can also help you look up hospitals and doctors to see if they're accepting a plan and taking new patients.

Full information on 2019 Medicare health and prescription drug plans is available on www.medicare.gov, and for Humana plans at www.humana.com/Medicare. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (or TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or call Humana at 1-877-877-0714 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time seven days a week.

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organization, and stand-alone prescription drug plan, with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on plan renewal.