Medicare Open Enrollment! Iowa Medicare beneficiaries Encouraged to Evaluate and Make Necessary Changes to Coverage Plans

Every fall, Medicare beneficiaries are provided an opportunity to review and change their Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan during the Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from October 15 to December 7. It’s important for Medicare beneficiaries to remember that Prescription Drug Plan and Medicare Advantage Plan costs, benefits, and providers can change each year, so evaluating your options could help you find better coverage, and even save money.

Medicare beneficiaries will receive information about any plan changes in the mail. Most will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September from your Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan. This is a summary of any changes in the plan’s cost, coverage, and service area that will take effect on January 1 of the next year. Other Medicare beneficiaries could receive information that their plan may not be renewed for the next year, and they will need to find a new plan during the Open Enrollment Period. It is critical to ensure that all mail from your plan is read to stay informed about all possible changes.

“Navigating the Open Enrollment Period can seem daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone,” said Kristin Griffith, Director of the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). “We have well trained SHIIP/SMP counselors across the state equipped to help you with this process.”

Iowans seeking assistance can visit shiip.iowa.gov to find a counselor in their county or find additional information on how to compare plans at shiip.iowa.gov/medicare-open-enrollment-period.

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) volunteers are available locally at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Both Nancy Schoh and Jim Johnson are trained and available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2025. Appointments are required. Please call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 568-3411 to schedule your appointment. You will need to bring your Medicare card, current Part D plan card, and a list of your medications from your pharmacy.

“There are a number of changes for Medicare beneficiaries to be aware of occurring in 2025 that are a result of the adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022,” Griffith added. “These include a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug spending as well as the implementation of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.” A summary of those changes can be found on the Iowa SHIIP website.

Key dates to remember:

• October 15th: Open Enrollment Begins
• December 7th: Open Enrollment Ends
• January 1st: Coverage Begins

If you’re currently a Medicare beneficiary have reviewed your plan changes and are happy with your current coverage, you don’t need to do anything during the Open Enrollment. Help from Medicare is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for some federal holidays at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Or locally call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to make an appointment with a SHIIP counselor