With a new year comes changes to your Medicare costs and coverage. Download this timely handout for details on changes in hospital insurance, medical insurance and prescription drug coverage. 

When can I change my coverage in 2024?

You may realize at some point in 2024 that you aren’t happy with your coverage. Many people may have to wait until the next Fall Open Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7) to change their coverage. You may be eligible for other opportunities to change your coverage earlier in 2024, though:

• If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan: During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP), you can switch from your Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan or to Original Medicare with or without a stand-alone prescription drug plan. The MA OEP occurs from January 1 through March 31. Changes made during this period are effective the first of the following month.
• If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP): You may be able to make changes to your Medicare health/drug coverage depending on your circumstances. For example, you may have an SEP if you move outside of your plan’s service area or if you made the wrong plan choice during Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period because of misinformation you received. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to use an SEP. For questions about SEPs, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) by calling 877-839-2675 or visiting shiphelp.org.
• If you have Extra Help: You have an SEP to enroll in a Part D plan or switch between plans. This SEP is available once per calendar quarter for the first three quarters of the year (January-March, April-June, and July-September). If you use the Extra Help SEP to change your coverage, the change will become effective the following month.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan directly to learn about your 2024 costs.

“New” Medicare card schemes

Do you know what isn’t new this year? Your Medicare card.

Medicare beneficiaries are not receiving new cards this year, but scammers may try to convince you otherwise. For example, scammers may falsely tell you that Medicare is issuing new cards—perhaps a card that is plastic or metal, or a card that has a chip in it. The scammers may tell you that for them to send your new card, you need to verify your identity, which could include your Medicare number. This is an attempt to get your personal or financial information.

Here are some red flags to look for:

• Unsolicited calls from anyone claiming to be from Medicare

• Anyone needing your personal information so that they can send you an updated Medicare card

• Anyone saying your card is expiring, and they need to send you a new one or you will be charged a fine

• Anyone stating Medicare is issuing new cards and you need to verify your number

Have questions? Call our SHINE Medicare counselors at 1-866-413-5337 or email shineinfo@aaaswfl.org.