Did you know Medicare Advantage plans change every year? Here’s what you need to know

(BPT) – Whether you’re enrolling for Medicare for the first time or you’ve had it for years, it’s important to know that Medicare Advantage plans — which include more benefits than Original Medicare, like prescriptions, dental, vision and hearing — can change from one year to the next. On top of that, your own medical needs may change from year to year, too. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to evaluate your current healthcare needs and take a look at available health plans from your carrier and others during the 2024 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2023. All of the major health insurance carriers providing Medicare Advantage plans include a variety of benefits that may be just what you’re looking for to help keep you healthy — and help you save. Here are just a few highlights from six major carriers that have updated plans for the 2024 plan year. UnitedHealthcare®: All standard Medicare Advantage plans will offer $0 copays for: virtual visits, mammograms, colonoscopies and routine dental, vision and hearing exams UCard®, which serves as a traditional plan ID card as well as rewards card, has been enhanced to let members shop with the card for covered products and services Standard plans cover over 2,000 hearing aids and devices not covered by Original Medicare, with new coverage for OTC devices added in 2024 Members with a vision benefit will maintain $0 annual eye exams and an eyewear allowance for frames or contacts with standard lenses covered in full Cigna Healthcare: Every service market has a $0 premium plan, and most plans feature a $0 copay for primary care Most markets offer a plan with a rebate toward your Medicare Part B monthly premium All plans offer dental, vision and hearing benefits, plus home delivery of meals following hospitalization and access to fitness benefits An enhanced hearing benefit covers hearing aids with predictable copays, and routine hearing exams Elevance: More affordable access to care, with 9 out of 10 plans at a $0 monthly premium Nearly all Medicare Advantage Plans will offer a $0 copay for Primary Care Provider visits More plans with improved prescription drug coverage — with more top drugs at a $0 copay An allowance toward the purchase of over-the-counter hearing aids on many plans Humana: 100% of Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision and hearing coverage 100% of Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans include $0 copays on prescriptions 100% of Humana USAA Honor plans are designed with veterans in mind, and include a $0 premium and Part B giveback 100% of Medicare Advantage plans that offer preferred mail order have $0 Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescriptions for a three-month supply Wellcare: New Wellcare Spendables card, a single card with preloaded funds available to use at over 55,000 nationwide retailers across Wellcare’s 37-state footprint Express Scripts will be Wellcare’s pharmacy benefits manager for 2024, bringing increased value to members to provide quality at the lowest cost Most plans offer dental, inclusive of preventive services members need most All plans cover Telehealth for many in-network key services with no out-of-pocket cost to members Aetna: 84% of the country’s population will have access to a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 monthly premium All Medicare Advantage plans will include dental, vision and hearing benefits All Medicare Advantage plans will provide $0 copay for preventive and diagnostic colonoscopies at in-network providers All MAPD plans will offer $0 copays on Tier 1 drugs and a $0 deductible on all Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs If you find sorting through the new 2024 Medicare Advantage plans confusing, you’re not alone. Consider consulting with a caring, trained and licensed insurance agent at ClearMatch™ Medicare, who can check to see what plans are available in your area — and if you’re already in the right plan, they will tell you! ClearMatch Medicare helps you find the right Medicare plan for you. Visit ClearMatchMedicare.com 24/7, or call 888-441-7031/TTY: 711, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for a free, no-obligation Medicare review.