More than 572,000 Kansas residents receive health coverage through Medicare, and the time to review benefits opens Sunday. The program’s Fall Open Enrollment period, when one can make changes that take effect Jan. 1, occurs each year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

“It’s important that Medicare beneficiaries make sure their current providers are still participating in their plan for 2024 and that the cost of any medications they need hasn’t increased,” KDADS Director of Medicare Programs Emily Blanch said. “Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to several aspects of their coverage, so it’s important to look at all the options again before you lock yourself in for another year. We encourage people to always take advantage of open enrollment because all of us have health care needs that change over time and Medicare plans change as well.”

“It is prudent to compare Part D plans periodically, as the plans change annually, as do your medications, needs, etc,” said Linn Hogg, director of Volunteers in Action of Central Kansas. From her Great Bend office, she coordinates Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) appointments for area seniors.

SHICK is a free program that offers Kansans unbiased assistance with questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. SHICK has counselors throughout the state to educate and assist the public in making informed decisions for each individual situation. 

“Part D plans vary drastically in terms of premium, deductible and co-pay structures. Also, many plans have certain pharmacy networks that provide preferred pricing,” Hogg said.

According to the new law, beginning in 2024 and continuing through 2029, the Part D so-called base premiums cannot increase by more than 6% a year, she said. However, the base premium may not reflect the total monthly premium that a plan enrollee pays. 

Because plans’ costs can vary widely, some enrollees could see a drop in their premiums while others see significant increases, she said. In 2024, the national average Part D base premium will be $55.50 a month. The amount of these premiums varies widely, depending on where you live and what plan you select.

“It’s important to know how these variables can affect Medicare recipients,” she said.

Why take a look?

By shopping available plans and comparing costs, beneficiaries may be able to find a Medicare health or drug plan with better coverage or a lower premium in 2024. Other services include:

• The Medicare Plan Finder, an online tool that helps people compare pricing between Original Medicare, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies, will be updated with 2024 information by Oct. 1.

• 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide help in English and Spanish as well as more than 200 additional languages.

During open enrollment, those currently enrolled may:

• Switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another

• If you didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when you were first eligible, you can do so during open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply

If you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must meet some basic criteria:

• You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B

• You must live in the plan’s service area

If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan and you don’t want to make changes to your coverage for 2024, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment, assuming your current plan will still be available in 2024. If your plan is being discontinued and isn’t eligible for renewal, you will receive a non-renewal notice from your carrier prior to open enrollment.