Whether you have had Medicare for years — or this is the first opportunity you have to enroll — it’s important that you understand your options, especially during this significant time of year called the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP). This is the time of the year — from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 — when Medicare-eligible individuals can choose a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug plan for 2024. Choosing coverage is an important decision, as it impacts both your health care and your wallet.

The key to making the best decision on your coverage is to take time to research plans and evaluate both your current and potential health care needs. Questions you may want to ask yourself are:

• What health conditions do I have now and what should I consider for the forthcoming year? Speak to your doctor about health risks that may require additional treatment. For instance, if you have persistent hip or knee pain, does your doctor anticipate that you may need replacement surgery next year? 

• What are my prescription medication needs? Prescription drug coverage is included in many Medicare Advantage plans, unlike Original Medicare. Prepare a list of your current medications so you can consider and compare costs while evaluating plans.

• Do my current doctors participate in the plans I’m considering? You will want to ensure your physicians accept your plan to avoid additional expenses for out-of-network providers. Also, understand if the plan requires referrals for specialized care.

• What other health care needs do I have? Consider additional benefits that can positively impact your health and well-being. Medicare Advantage plans are designed to help cover all your health care needs, which is why it’s important to decide if you want a plan that includes dental, vision, hearing, and mental health benefits. 

• Is the plan highly rated? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reviews and rates all Medicare Advantage plans to help consumers make informed decisions. Plans are rated on a scale of one to five, with one indicating poor performance and five indicating excellence. Of all national health plans, Humana has had the highest percentage of members in plans rated four stars or higher by CMS for the last six years.

Beyond the plan itself, you want to ensure that you’re selecting a company that will be there for you when you have questions or need assistance. We are proud that — for the third year in a row — Humana has been ranked number one among health insurers for customer experience quality in Forrester’s proprietary 2023 US Customer Experience Benchmark survey.

For veterans, it’s important to know that enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan can complement your Veteran’s Affairs (VA) benefits and allow you to use health care providers and hospitals outside the VA system, which may be closer to home, especially in an emergency. Humana is proud that USAA® recommends their Medicare Advantage plans, including the co-branded Humana USAA Honor^®  plans designed with veterans in mind, and available to all Medicare eligible beneficiaries.

To learn more about Medicare Advantage, visit Humana.com/Medicare101.

Additional Information:

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP, and  PFFS organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.  Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a five-star rating system. The Humana USAA Honor plans are available to anyone eligible for Medicare and veterans should consider all of their health plan options. Humana Insurance Company pays royalty fees to USAA for the use of its intellectual property. USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. Use of the term “USAA member” or “USAA membership” refers to membership in USAA Membership Services and does not convey any legal or ownership rights in USAA. Restrictions apply and are subject to change. USAA and the USAA Logo are registered trademarks of the United Services Automobile Association. All rights reserved. No Department of Defense or government agency endorsement. 

Humana received the highest CX Index™ score among health insurers in Forrester’s proprietary 2023 Customer Experience Benchmark Survey. The proprietary survey results are based on consumers’ opinions of their experiences with the brands in the survey. Forrester Research does not endorse any company included in any CX Index report and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any particular company based on the ratings included in such reports.

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