What to Know Before You Enroll in a CarePlus Medicare Advantage Plan

You know that you need Medicare coverage. How do you decide which plan is best for you? Things to consider before you enroll:

• Prescription Drug Benefits – Many Medicare Advantage HMO plans include health coverage and prescription drug coverage in one simple plan, at one affordable price. CarePlus Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage that's the same or greater than Medicare's standard requirement.
• Premiums – With a CarePlus Medicare Advantage plan, you do not pay a separate monthly plan premium. (You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.) In some situations, CarePlus members are required to pay a late enrollment penalty because they did not join a Medicare drug plan when they first became eligible, or because they had a continuous period of 63 days or more when they didn't keep their coverage. For these members, the late enrollment penalty is billed.
• Effective Dates – In most cases, your coverage becomes effective on the first day of the next month after you apply. However, if you enroll in a plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP) between October 15 and December 7, your coverage will become effective January 1 of the following year.

You should know that if you purchase a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan while you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that has prescription drug coverage, you will be disenrolled automatically from your Medicare Advantage plan.