This week on October 15 marks the beginning of the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare. Running from October 15 to December 7, this period allows individuals to select, change, and make adjustments to their Medicare plan. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older (and certain younger people with certain disabilities or End-Stage Renal Disease) that covers an individual under the health care law.
The Open Enrollment Period is an important window for Medicare beneficiaries, as plan coverage can change from year to year. However, it’s only one of several Medicare enrollment periods that can affect when and how individuals receive their benefits.
To provide greater clarity around Medicare—including its different enrollment periods, the fundamentals of coverage, and additional services that can support women as they age—the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and HealthyWomen developed a resource designed to simplify the basics and equip women with the knowledge they need to understand and navigate Medicare enrollment.
“Savvy and 65: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Medicare” provides a high-level overview of key Medicare information and provides important information about Medicare benefits that support two areas vital to maintaining strength and longevity in older adulthood—bone health and heart health.
Let SWHR and HealthyWomen help you simplify the Medicare process by following the steps in this guide to better understand and navigate Medicare. Resources in the guide include:
- Choosing your pathway, between Original/Traditional Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Important dates in the enrollment calendar
- Interactions between Medicare and other insurance
- Medicare coverage for bone health
- Medicare coverage for heart health
Making the most of Open Enrollment this fall starts with knowing your options. “Savvy and 65: A Woman’s Guide to Understanding Medicare” is here to lead women through the essentials and help women feel more prepared to manage their health as they age. Explore it today—along with other Medicare resources, such as Medicare.gov, your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), AARP, and others—to empower women to take the next step toward confident, informed Medicare decisions.
Healthy aging is possible—and it’s exciting. SWHR and HealthyWomen are proud to help you get there. View the full guide at medicareforwomen.org.