Medicare Advantage Open
Enrollment Jan. 1 to March 31
OSHIIP helping Ohioans understand coverage options
The Ohio Department of Insurance – through its Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information (OSHIIP) Program is helping Ohio beneficiaries understand their plan options, providing enrollment assistance and explaining how to avoid predatory sales practices during the Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2009 Medicare Advantage open enrollment.
Medicare Advantage open enrollment allows people on Medicare to make a single plan election into or out of a Medicare Advantage plan, which is sometimes referred to as Part C. The health coverage is comprehensive and can include prescription drug coverage. People with Medicare can contact OSHIIP at 1-800-686-1578 with any questions.
Here are the different coverage scenarios permitted during Medicare Advantage open enrollment:- If a person on Medicare currently has a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, they can use open enrollment to select a different Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, Original Medicare and a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, or a Private-Fee-For-Service plan and a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- If a person on Medicare currently has a Medicare Advantage plan with no Part D prescription drug coverage, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage.
- If a person on Medicare currently has Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage or a Private-Fee-For-Service plan with the same stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan.
- If a person on Medicare currently has Original Medicare without a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, they can use open enrollment to select a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage.
There are numerous Medicare Advantage plan choices and they include managed care options like Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and non-managed care options such as Private-Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans and Medical Savings Accounts.