Annual Medicare Plan Review for North Bergen Residents

A yearly check-up for your coverage

This is a private website. If you request information, a licensed insurance agent will contact you. We are not a government agency.

Annual Plan Review Help for North Bergen

Your Medicare plan is not set in stone. Every year, insurers can change premiums, copays, drug lists, pharmacy networks and doctor networks. A plan that fit you perfectly last January may cost much more next year without you changing anything.

That is why we offer every client a free review each fall. It takes about half an hour, and it is often the easiest money-saving step in the whole Medicare year.

An older couple reads a letter together on their front steps beside a pumpkin

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Free Plan ReviewTell us a little about you

Read Your Annual Notice of Change

By the end of September, your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. It lists what will be different starting January 1. Many people set it aside because it is long and dense. Please do not. Bring it to us and we will go through it with you.

What We Check in a Review

Whether each of your medicines is still covered, and on what tier
Changes to your premium, deductible and yearly out-of-pocket limit
Whether your doctors, specialists and Palisades Medical Center remain in network
Your pharmacy's status in the plan
Changes to dental, vision, hearing and other extra benefits
Whether your income now qualifies you for help with costs

If your current plan still fits, we tell you so and you do nothing. If something better is available among the plans we offer, we show you the difference in plain numbers.

Key Dates for Your Calendar

The fall Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, and any change you make starts January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance from January 1 to March 31 to switch plans or return to Original Medicare. Other changes in your life, such as a move out of the area or a change in Medicaid status, can open a Special Enrollment Period.

Beyond the Plan: Your Health Year

A review is also a good time to use the benefits you already have. Have you had your yearly wellness visit? Are your preventive screenings up to date? Do you know how to use the drug plan's mail-order option? Small steps like these can make your coverage work harder for you.

If you need a ride to the doctor, remember that the township's senior center offers free weekday medical transportation when you call 7 to 10 business days ahead.

Staying Safe During Enrollment Season

The fall is also the busiest season for scams. Medicare will not call you to sell a plan or ask for your number out of the blue. If anyone pressures you to switch today or offers a gift for your Medicare number, hang up. Report suspicious calls to Medicare, and sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on sales calls.

Talk It Over Before You Decide

A free review with a local, licensed agent costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. We compare the plans we offer against your doctors, medicines and budget, in English or Spanish. Learn more about our agency.

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Annual Plan Review Questions

Do I have to change plans every year?

No. Many people keep the same plan for years. The review just makes sure staying put is still the right choice.

What if I miss December 7?

You may still have options, such as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 or a Special Enrollment Period. Call us and we will check.

Is the review really free?

Yes. There is no charge for the review or for our help afterward, whether or not you change plans.

Can my family join the review?

Of course. Many adult children join a parent's review by phone or video, and we can do the review in Spanish.