AAA: Clock ticks for Medicare annual enrollment

AAA reminds Medicare recipients to review their plans with professional advisers

By AAA of Western and Central New York

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will end Dec. 7. With just a few short weeks left, AAA is urgently reminding Medicare-eligible recipients to review their plan needs with a professional to ensure adequate health care coverage in 2025. With more than 80 plans to choose from, Medicare can be confusing for individuals, and AAA warns this year has proven to be even more challenging due myriad changes.

Current Medicare recipients should have received their plan’s annual notice of change (ANOC) by the first week of October. This notice will review changes to the benefits and costs of their current Medicare plan for the 2025 plan year.

Following the federal government’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), AAA anticipates substantial changes to Medicare plans, particularly in terms of prescription drug coverage, for 2025. Therefore, it is very important for recipients to review Medicare plan coverage options for 2025 to ensure that they are enrolled in a plan that best meets their health care needs. AAA’s Medicare advisers can guide individuals to ensure they receive adequate coverage.

Medicare is the federal insurance program for people who are 65 or older or certain younger people with disabilities. AEP is the time of year when everyone who is Medicare-eligible can make changes to their plans.

AAA partners with many different insurance carriers to offer a wide range of options so that recipients can maximize what their plan offers. Unlike many providers, AAA doesn’t work for insurance carriers, so advisers can offer unbiased assistance to help recipients find a Medicare plan to meet their needs. Services are available to all Medicare-eligible individuals in the community, both AAA members and nonmembers alike.

The public can learn more by visiting www.AAA.com/Medicare to schedule an appointment online.

AAA works with familiar carriers like Highmark, Excellus, Univera and Independent Health, offering more than 80 plans to tailor coverage to individual needs. Within the plans, Medicare has four main "parts" that cover specific services. These are:

•Part A for hospital insurance. This is for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some health care services.

•Part B for medical insurance. This covers certain doctor's services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services.

•Part C (aka Medicare Advantage). This is Medicare through a health care provider.

•Part D for prescription drug coverage. Part D adds prescription drug coverage to original Medicare and Medicare-related plans.

By calling, you agree that a AAA licensed insurance agent may contact you. AAA Insurance is provided through AAA Members Insurance Agency of Western & Central New York Inc., which offers products through AAA-affiliated companies and non-affiliated companies. Not affiliated with any government agency including Medicare. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 12 organizations which offer 65-plus products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 860,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.