IBM Medicare Via Benefits Medicare Fall Enrollment for 2019

Medicare fall enrollment began yesterday.  You have until midnight December 7th to make decisions about what, if anything, you want to change regarding your Medicare insurance. DO NOT wait that long if you have to call Via Benefits to change a policy you bought through them to another one they offer because it will take forever to get through to them. 

YOU MUST buy at least one policy through Via Benefits to get to use your HRA/FHA.  If you bought a plan such as a part D (PDP) that was not through Via Benefits then you can select a new PDP by going to www.medicare.gov to enroll or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE to enroll.

You'll get bombarded by mail and email from every insurance company selling Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans (PDPs) in your zip code because this is the time of year you can change to those plans.  It is also the time of year you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to original Medicare. 

HOWEVER, it depends on the state you live in whether and when you can buy a Medicare Supplement plan to use with original Medicare. Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program to find out the Medicare Supplement aka medigap rules for your state if you do not know them. 

You can find your State Health Insurance Assistance program phone number  at https://www.shiptacenter.org.