In October, you'll start hearing a lot about the annual Medicare open enrollment period. It is a time when existing Medicare enrollees can make changes to their coverage.
During this time, you can do the following things:
* Enroll in a Medicare Part D (drug coverage) plan
* Change from one Medicare Part D plan to another
* Cancel a Medicare Part D plan
* Switch from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare
* Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan
* Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
* Enroll in a Medicare supplement plan if you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare, Parts A (hospital) and B (medical).
The annual open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 17.
If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan, you may want to review what plans are available. Selections change each year and some may be better suited to your current medical or financial status.
Allyson Good curates senior living, health, and family content. She is formerly the Managing Editor of Active Life, a print newspaper published in 2016-2017 for seniors, choosing practical articles on health, money, safety, and everyday living for older readers. She is also an avid gardener and offers up Garden Hints and Tips on a regular basis.