IT'S THAT TIME! ⏰ Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is here again!

Celebrating 12 years as a Medicare Specialist, October 2020

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Hi there!

In this newsletter: Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is here again: October 15th to December 7th. Learn the "Need To Know" items during this period.

Also, Are you receiving unsolicited calls? ... and what to do about them!

Also, I respond to some feedback about my newsletter last month.

Keep reading!

Theresa Cangemi CSA, CLTC

"The Medicare Lady™"

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is here again:

October 15th to December 7th.

This is the time of year where a Medicare eligible can make changes to their Medicare health or prescription drug insurance plan.

If a new plan is chosen or enrolled in then the new plan starts January 1st of the follow year (or January 2021).

Please call me if you want to change your Medicare plan or have questions about the changes for 2021.

If a change is needed, we can fill out the new paperwork together and I can stay your “Agent Of Record.”

If your current Medicare plan is meeting your needs then no new paperwork is needed and your current Medicare plan will rollover to 2021 and you WON’T need to fill out any new paperwork. A new member card for 2021 will most likely be mailed out to you, depending on the carrier (insurance company).

Either way, LOOK FOR a document that will be mailed out to you (at the end of September) called an ANOC or “Annual Notification of Change” document. This document will let you know what the 2020 current benefits are and how your current Medicare plan and benefits will change for 2021.

Review to see if your doctors will still be in-network for 2021. Also look to see if your medications are still on the drug formulary or drug list. Make sure the medications haven’t been changed around and therefore higher copays. Review to see how dental, vision, gym, and hearing aids are offered for the following year AND what new benefits are being added….. like: acupuncture, virtual medical visits (telehealth), OTC (over the counter items), transportation, eyewear coverage, meals (after an in-patient hospital discharge), ect.

The Annual Out Of Pocket Maximum amounts are changing for 2021, take notice!

UNSOLICITED CALLS - - AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Most of my clients have had the discussion with me about Unsolicited Calls during the Annual Enrollment Period. These unsolicited calls can also arrive around the time when someone is becoming a Medicare eligible (or turning age 65).

There are agents and agencies that buy or purchase lists to call, email, and now text those eligible for Medicare. I have had clients or potential clients tell me that they are getting bothered and bombarded by other agents or agencies with calls about changing their Medicare plans …. when the help wasn’t asked for.

Be careful, about going online and filling out a form or inquiry to get information mailed or emailed to you. If you do this, you just opened yourself up to every agent and agency contacting you because then you have just given permission to be contacted.

You must give an agent or agency permission to CONTACT you. Without this permission, where you reach out or contact first, then agents or agencies are NOT suppose to contact you first. If this happens it is against our compliance or regulations, as agents.

If you are bothered, harassed, bombarded with calls (ect) you can report these violations to the Department of Financial Services (DFS) or the New York State Insurance Department.

First, explain to the caller that you have not given permission for the call and to stop calling.
Second, you can also ask for the persons name, phone number, what agency they work for (or are they independent), and that you might or could report the unsolicited call to DFS.

Remember this slide? (part of my PowerPoint presentation)

Please give me a call if you want to make changes to your current Medicare plan for 2021.

I will try my hardest to return calls no later than 48 hours. You will always get a reply. You can email, call (leave a message), and text me. If you leave a message in more than one location, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your repeat business and keeping me your “Agent of Record.”

Theresa Cangemi

CMS News Release - - FEEDBACK ABOUT MY LAST SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER

I received disapproval emails about my last newsletter:

“Trump Administration Continues to Keep Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs Low for Seniors.”

Apparently, one or two of my clients thought I was using my “platform” or my newsletters for “partisan political purposes.” That would be suicidal!

My response or reply was that I redistributed a CMS news release article that was about the changes to prescription drug plans for the upcoming new year (2021) and how these changes would impact Medicare eligibles - especially those who need insulin. This information would be important for those heavily impacted with the costs of obtaining insulin.

Look, I understand the political divide and the strong reasons why each of us are choosing whom we see fit to run the next four years of our country. But I also think that an article written and produced by CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) that I redistributed to educate my clients about the upcoming changes in the Medicare plans and changes for those insulin dependent, was just an article!

Should I have deleted the “Trump” name before redistributing the article?

After all, whomever the President is (at this time) when economic changes are made would mention the President’s name in the article; especially during a re-election year.

If you find the information valuable in the newsletter (any newsletter), then this is a good thing. If not, then delete and maybe the next newsletter will pertain more to your needs.

I am sorry if anyone was offended in any way. That was not my intention. Hopefully, we can all take a deep breathe shortly.

This year has been a “doozy” for all of us. Right?

Feel free to comment to: tcangemi@MyMedicareMadeSimple.com

* This article is for information purposes only. I don’t recommend, support, or diagnose any featured writer or article. I am not a doctor. Your health is one of a kind. What works for one person may not for another, so the information in these articles should not take the place of an expert opinion. Before making significant lifestyle or diet changes, please consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know your own health best.

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