FROM OCTOBER 15 THROUGH DECEMBER 7, those who are enrolled in Medicare have the opportunity to review their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans and make changes if they’d like. Sounds simple, but an expert in the field offers a word to the wise: be vigilant and don’t assume anything, and be sure to review and evaluate their insurance plans for 2025.
That time period is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period—AEP for short—which applies to anyone already enrolled in Medicare.
The importance of this window is not to be taken lightly, said Ron Myers, a financial advisor and an independent insurance agent with Citizen Advisory Group in Perrysburg. “Some may not need to change; they may be happy with their coverage,” he said. “But this is an opportunity for individuals to review if their needs, their health situation, their medications, specific doctors, or the benefits of their plan have changed.
“This is why it’s important to review,” he added. “Even if you decide to stay, you need to make sure your plan, your benefits, and details of that plan haven’t changed. Maybe that plan is no longer a good fit for you.”
Myers continued, “The review process is important every year, but this year is one of the most important in recent years. We’re seeing more changes in carriers and their plans. Again, it’s important for the consumer to understand how their plan is changing and if it’s still the right fit. Even if it’s changing, it doesn’t mean it is not the right fit.”
There’s an element of confusion as well. “Because of changes, we’ll potentially see more advertising and more marketing in mailings and TV ads,” he said. “Sometimes that makes it difficult to understand what’s the difference among plans and what’s the right fit. In 2025, even more so than in prior years, it’s important for consumers to be diligent and vigilant to understand their plan.”
Potentially lost in the wave of information is a critical mailing. The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans are required to issue an annual notice of change—ANOC. “That document is sent to every enrollee by October 1 and identifies how that plan is changing for the next year. But too often so many individuals are bombarded with so much solicitation that they don’t recognize the official notice from their carrier, or if they get it through email, it gets lost in all the other emails that we all get. We want to be on the lookout as a consumer for this ANOC.” Myers said that as an independent agent, one of his roles is to help his clients identify what is the right fit for them out of the different plan options.
He said another resource is OSHIIP: Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program. Made available through the Ohio Department of Insurance, OSHIIP provides Medicare beneficiaries with information and one-on-one counseling. (Visit https://insurance.ohio.gov/about-us/ divisions/oshiip.)
“The simple advice is: be vigilant and don’t assume anything,” Myers said. “It’s more important than ever heading into this enrollment period to identify changes made and how they’re impacting you.”
Dennis Bova is a freelance writer and editor. ✲
