Annual Medicare Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment happens annually from Oct. 15-Dec. 7 and is the time of year when qualifying Ohioans can make changes to their coverage. The changes made during Open Enrollment are effective Jan. 1 of the next year.

Options During Open Enrollment

Ohioans’ options vary depending on the kind of coverage you have now. You can:

• Change how you get coverage — Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
• Change your drug plan — Join, drop or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you’re in Original Medicare
• Change your Medicare Advantage Plan — Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage (or add or drop drug coverage)

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Medicare and Medicare Advantage are both health insurance programs for seniors and people with certain disabilities in the United States. They offer different coverage options and benefits.

Original Medicare — A fee-for-service health insurance program that has two parts: Part A and Part B. You typically pay a portion of the costs for covered services as you get them. Coverage does not include network restrictions. Medigap plans cover out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare (Parts A and B), such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) — A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage (Part D).

Medicare Advantage, or MA plans, may pose hidden risks, particularly for individuals with complex or serious health conditions. These plans typically require prior authorization for a wide range of services and operate within restricted provider networks, which can limit access to preferred physicians or facilities.

Learn More About Medicare Advantage        Know Your Rights with Medicare Advantage

OHA Member Resources

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