As the final month of the first quarter comes around, I thought I would offer a few reminders for those of you who are on Medicare.

The biggest reminder I’d like to offer is for those of you on a Medicare Advantage Plan.  If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you likely have an Over-the-Counter (OTC) benefit. This is a benefit that gives you credit each quarter to spend on OTC items – things like bandaids, toothbrushes, vitamins, shower stools, etc.  These benefits are often quarterly and unused dollars don’t roll into the following quarter.

Some companies have cards that you can use in specific retailers, others have online catalogs that you can order from, and other companies give both options.

The other reminder is also for those on Medicare Advantage plans. The Open Enrollment Period goes from Jan 1 - Mar 31.  This allows you to make a one-time plan change if you have discovered the current Medicare Advantage Plan you’re on isn’t working quite right for you.  This is only for people who started January 1 on a Medicare Advantage Plan.

My final reminder is a little outside the scope of Medicare but indeed important.  I have been getting quite a few questions about scams and concerns with Identity Theft.  Unfortunately, this is a real problem and it gets bigger every day. Because of this, I have offered Identity Theft Protection as a service since 2015.  If you have questions about this, please don’t hesitate to shoot me a text or give me a call.