If you were here in Southern California this past weekend, you felt the storm roll through. Every October brings a storm of its own. When the Annual Election Period arrives, plans leave the market, medical group contracts go unrenewed, 800 numbers promise the sun and the moon, and the mail piles up in your box. It can feel like a lot. It does not have to.
We have been preparing for months to be the calm in that storm. We knew a great deal was coming, and while we were not allowed to tell you before October 1, we have been working diligently behind the scenes so that your experience is smooth. We have received your texts, your replies, and your calls asking what to do, so let me walk you through a few simple steps to stay calm.
First, a quick word of relief. If you have a Supplement, you can exhale. Your plan renews on its own and does not need a yearly change. What we review each fall is your prescription drug plan, and for our Medicare Advantage families, your full plan.
1. Take a deep breath. You are one of only about one in three people on Medicare who has an agent, a trusted ally in your corner. We have your back.
2. Complete your survey, and the sooner the better. The early bird gets the worm. We review every client in the order we receive them, so sending yours in early means your review reaches our hands sooner. No cutsies in line. Just as you would not call your CPA expecting a same day appointment during tax season, we have built a process that is fair to everyone and lets us give you the attention you deserve.
3. If you mostly take generic drugs and your plan has a disruption, meaning it is leaving or no longer contracting with your medical group, please sign up for one of our Plan Comparison Meetings in Orange County. Why only OC? It has the most disruptions this year. Last year it was Riverside, and the year before, San Diego. Los Angeles, cross your fingers. (Just kidding.) These meetings are the easiest way to compare the available plans side by side. And if you received a letter from your carrier or medical group, that is the one piece of mail worth acting on. We have been reaching out. If we have already connected, we have it from here. If we have not heard from you yet, please reach out so we can help you choose an alternative that keeps your doctors.
4. Starting Thursday, October 15, we begin sending your reviews, in the order received, with our recommended plan. Please read yours carefully and let us know if any questions come up.
We hosted two general Town Hall meetings earlier this month. If you missed them, you can watch the recap on YouTube. Click here
We also held the first of two Town Halls for our Aetna PPO clients who need to switch carriers for next year, walking through the three options available. You can still join the second one this Thursday, October 15 at 2 pm. RSVP Here
Here is how we keep this easy for you:
- – You complete one short survey, or simply tell us nothing has changed.
- – We do the comparing, so you never have to read the pile or sort through every plan.
- – We send you a clear recommendation, in plain language.
- – We handle the paperwork and the enrollment.
- – And we are here all year, not only in October.
And here is the best part. While we handle your health plan, you get to focus on what actually matters this time of year: the holidays, your family, and a little well earned rest. That is the whole point of having us in your corner.
Because the truth is, the air is always cleanest after the storm. The season gets loud, but it passes, and you come through it with coverage that fits and a team that has your back. It is the honor of my work to be your calm while it blows through.
Warmly,
Cindy Santos-Mendoza
https://www.facebook.com/westcompassinsurance
For more information about Medicare visit: https://westcompassinsurance.com/medicare-basics/