Do I need to act during Medicare’s open enrollment?

Medicare's annual open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, allowing current beneficiaries to review and change their Part D prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans. The enrollment window applies only to people who have already turned 65 or are under 65 and already enrolled in Medicare.

Those approaching 65, such as a Lexington, Kentucky, resident who turns 65 in May, do not need to act during this fall's open enrollment. Instead, they will enter a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period that begins three months before their birthday month and ends three months afterward.

Medicare columnist Toni King advises that insurance companies market their policies aggressively, but coverage is not one-size-fits-all. She recommends talking with medical providers to determine which plan best fits an individual's health situation and prescriptions.

The 2027 "Medicare & You" handbook has been mailed to more than 70 million beneficiaries in time for the enrollment period. Since costs, drug coverage and extra benefits can change each year, comparing plans now could save money and headaches later.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal