Contact
Simona Combi
Public Relations Manager
571-527-3982
simona.combi@ncoa.org
Arlington, VA (October 10, 2023)—The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, is urging all individuals with Medicare to check their coverage during this year’s Open Enrollment, from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2023. For those who switch plans, coverage starts in 2024.
“It’s always a good idea to see if your current Medicare plan still works for you,” said Darren Hotton, Associate Director for Community Health and Benefits at NCOA. “Like with any other kind of insurance, Medicare coverage and prices can change from one year to the next. Or maybe you need better coverage for certain conditions.”
Research shows that only about 10% of individuals use this chance to switch plans. The result can be overspending for coverage they don’t need or use. As poverty among older adults has increased to 14.1%, according to the most recent Census data, it is even more important than ever they have a health insurance plan that works for them.
The Biden administration announced that the projected average premium for Medicare Advantage plans will be $18.50 per month, close to the $17.86 per month in 2023. The average basic monthly premium for standard Part D coverage is projected to be $55.50 in 2024, a decrease from $56.49 in 2023. However, in most areas, premiums are much lower than the average, which is great news for older adults.
NCOA offers several tools to help older adults navigate their health care costs, including a guide to choosing a Medicare plan and partnerships with insurance brokers that have met NCOA’s Standards of Excellence. NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp® helps people with Medicare determine if they may be eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs and Medicare Extra Help—two programs that help cover health care costs for people with low and moderate incomes.
Another trusted resource is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) network. There are SHIPs in every state, and they provide local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers.
This is also an opportunity for individuals to see if they are eligible for benefits that help defray some out-of-pocket costs. Every year, older adults leave $30 billion on the table because they are not enrolled in public benefits they are eligible for, such as Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS, or Extra Help), which represents $10.6 billion of that, and the Medicare Savings Programs MSPs, which range between $4 and $6 billion in forfeited benefits.
NCOA and 56 other organizations sent letters to House of Representatives and Senate leaders in September, urging them to provide permanent funding of $75 million for Medicare beneficiary low-income outreach and enrollment activities.
For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org/Medicare.
About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.
