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Simple missteps when choosing your Medicare and Supplemental Plans can cost you greatly if you are not careful. Here are a few to watch out for:

1. Prescription drugs
When it comes to paying for your prescriptions, all plans are not equal. In fact, plans can change the lineup of drugs they cover each year.

According to Kaiser Family Foundation, your costs for a prescription may increase ten times between formulary and non formulary drugs. Screen the plans to see how much each insurer will pay for the drugs you are taking.

You can visit Medicare.gov (under drug coverage, find health & drug plans) to search for plans that offer coverage for the drugs you take. Make a point to compare your drug plan with others each year to assure you are getting the best bang for your buck.

2. Medigap coverage
Getting the right plan for your specific needs can be tricky. If you choose Original Medicare Part A, you need a Medigap or supplemental policy – Part B to pick up where Medicare coverage leaves off. You also need to choose a separate Part D – prescription drug plan.

You can simplify by choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan – Part C which combines all of the coverages together and handles all claim processing through one carrier.

Some Advantage Plans still require you to pick up a separate policy for prescription drug coverage. In 2016, 69 percent of enrollees went with Original Medicare Plans while 31 percent chose Medicare Advantage Plans.

Medicare Advantage Plans generally require you to use a specific list of doctors and medical facilities through either a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).

When choosing an Advantage Plan check to make sure your favorite doctors and the facilities you most often visit are covered on the list of providers.

3. Important deadlines
Harsh financial penalties can be avoided by knowing your deadline dates. Failure to sign up during the enrollment period could mean your Part B premium may be 10 percent higher – for life – for each full year you are late signing up for Medicare Part B.

If you are 65 or older, still an active employee and covered under your employer’s health insurance plan you are not required to sign up at 65 unless your company has 20 or fewer employees. If this is the case, you may be required to sign up for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, which will become the primary payer when you have a claim and your employer’s plan will become the secondary payer.

Once the clock starts ticking, there is only a seven-month window to avoid permanent penalties. Call our office if you have questions regarding the deadlines or need more information about the requirements.

SFS