NISKAYUNA – Between October 15 and December 7, Medicare enrollees can change their Medicare Advantage or prescription plans for 2024.
“This period allows Medicare enrollees to shop for a health plan most closely matched to their doctors, prescription medications, travel plans and, of course, budget,” said DGAlcorn & Associates General Agent Dan Alcorn. Based in Niskayuna, this team of local and licensed agents specializes in Medicare plans and believes “healthcare is local.”
What does that mean?
“While Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are governed at the federal level, each plan is offered on a statewide, regional or county level,” Alcorn said.
“Our team of local agents live in the communities they serve and are more aware of the local healthcare environment than a representative on the other end of a toll-free number.”
An example would be a letter Albany Medical Center recently mailed to its patients announcing it would not be accepting a certain Medicare plan after January 1. “Our agents, in the community, became aware of that letter right away and will consider that when helping clients select a Medicare health plan for 2024. No telemarketing representative would know that degree of detail about what is happening at a local level.”
Another example is the New York EPIC plan or how Medicare Supplement eligibility rules differ in New York compared to Florida. “I am licensed and serve clients in multiple states, and New York rules definitely are definitely beneficial to the individual member.” said Alcorn
Along with your annual physical, “we encourage Medicare enrollees to have a local licensed agent help with your health plan checkup, too. Select your local agent at www.dgalcorn.com and visit one at a community presentation or request a telephone or home appointment to have your questions answered and explore options for 2024.”