Associated Press: Medicare moves up deadline

A new deadline for privately run versions of the government's Medicare program may trip up customers who typically wait until the holidays to settle on their health insurance coverage for the coming year.

This fall's open enrollment deadline for Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug coverage has been moved up nearly a month to Dec. 7.

Here are some questions to consider this fall.

What deadlines will change?

Beneficiaries will receive their annual notice telling them about any changes in their coverage for next year by Sept. 30, which is a month earlier than last year. Insurers then will start marketing their 2012 plans on Oct. 1.

This year's open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. That's a longer stretch than last year's window of Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

But the health care overhaul calls for the earlier deadline to ensure that new coverage begins as planned on Jan. 1, according to a Senate Finance Committee aide.

What happens if you miss the deadline and make no changes?

This can get complicated. If the plan still is offered for 2012, then a customer who doesn't make any changes remains enrolled. But details of that plan may change.

If the plan is discontinued, customers may be switched to another Medicare Advantage plan offered by the same insurer. They also could be dropped into regular Medicare, which does not provide prescription drug coverage.

Options do not completely dry up if a beneficiary misses the Dec. 7 deadline. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 14, Medicare Advantage customers can drop their plans and enroll in regular Medicare. They also can pick a Part D prescription drug plan, but they cannot jump to another Medicare Advantage plan.

Should Medicare Advantage customers review their coverage if they don't plan to make changes?

Absolutely. Plans can change how they cover expenses from year to year. Any changes will be laid out in the annual notices consumers receive from their insurers.

"People really, really need to look carefully and not assume that because something worked last year it will work this year," Stein said.