Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Beware The (Medi-)Gap: If You're Going To Make Medicare Changes, Make Sure You Know The Pitfalls
If you鈥檙e going to make Medicare coverage changes that include dropping or buying a supplemental plan 鈥 aka, Medigap 鈥 make sure you know the rules that come along with it. Medicare鈥檚 annual open enrollment period 鈥 now underway through Dec. 7 鈥 allows you to switch various parts of your coverage for next year. And while that can be a straightforward yearly change for many people, others might run into snags if it involves Medigap. (O'Brien, 10/26)
The deadline to sign up for Medicare is upon us, and for some, that means it鈥檚 time to navigate the murky waters of Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C. Not all Medicare Advantage plans are created equal, which is why the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services use a five-star quality rating system to help consumers find the best plan for them. (Garcia, 10/28)
President Donald Trump鈥檚 recent executive order on Medicare, which was designed to rebut Democrats' single-payer "Medicare for All" proposals,聽could impact the enrollment process as the administration seeks to boost the program's private health plans. The order, released earlier this month, is intended to bolster private insurance plans in the Medicare Advantage program. Trump and Republicans have branded聽"Medicare for All" as 鈥淢edicare for none,鈥 saying Democrats鈥 vision of universal coverage would rip the current option for private plans away from seniors and further endanger Medicare鈥檚 financial solvency. (Clason, 10.28)