Claire received a postcard in the mail for a Medicare Workshop and decided she would attend. Her husband, Ken, was a few years older and was already on a Medicare plan that his brother recommended without doing any research for his specific needs. After attending the workshop, Claire was excited to meet with her Certified Medicare Planner® because she had no idea there were so many options with Medicare!
While meeting with the couple, Ken quickly pointed out that he was already on a Medicare plan and bragged that he felt it was "good enough." Claire gently reminded her husband that this was her meeting. After reviewing all the plan options available to Claire to select from, Ken expressed his amazement. "I didn't know those benefits were available with Medicare!" Ken sat quietly for the rest of the meeting, seemingly annoyed that he missed out on a plan that could have provided more benefits to him too.
After helping Claire find the plan that suited her, we turned to Ken to let him know he was not stuck. The Annual Election Period (AEP), October 15th through December 7th, occurring annually, allows folks to change certain plans. Ken asked to have his plans reviewed to see if the plan recommended for Claire would be appropriate for him, too. He couldn't wait to call his brother, inform him of all the extra benefits available, and suggest he have his Medicare reviewed, too!
If you are like Ken and have settled for a "good enough" plan, it's worth having your coverage reviewed to see if another plan would provide the benefits you are entitled to! Call us! We can help!
By American Retirement Advisors
American Retirement Advisors helps retirees and pre-retirees navigate Medicare, estate planning, and retirement income — so you can enjoy the retirement you've earned.
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Easy Eddie's Take
This story about Ken and Claire happens more than you might think. Most people are surprised when they learn that Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans can have dramatically different benefits, even from the same insurance company. One question that comes up all the time is "Can I change my Medicare plan if I picked the wrong one?" The answer is yes, during the Annual Open Enrollment Period from October 15th through December 7th each year.
Here's the good news: whether you have Original Medicare with a Supplement plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, or stand-alone Part D prescription coverage, you can compare your options every fall. For 2026, the average Medicare Advantage plan premium is projected to decrease while benefits continue to expand. Many plans now include dental, vision, hearing aids, and even grocery allowances that weren't available just a few years ago.
Think of it this way: a quick annual review with a Certified Medicare Planner® can help you discover benefits you didn't know existed, just like Ken did. And that's what makes planning ahead 123easy.