WELCOME CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE CLIENTS!

MEDICARE ANNUAL ENROLLMENT

OCTOBER 1 – Medicare plan information available to the public (you may get your new plan information earlier in the mail in late Sept); however, we cannot share competitive information until 10/01. Medicare Supplement information may not be available until early November.
 
OCTOBER 15 – DECEMBER 7 – You may switch your Medicare ADVANTAGE or Prescription Drug Plan for a 01/01 effective date. No health checks required. Note that Medicare SUPPLEMENTS have different rules and may require health underwriting for acceptance.
 
UNDER 65 INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY PLAN OPEN ENROLLMENT
 
NOVEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 15 - You should receive your renewal information near the end of October. You may switch by December 15 for a 01/01 effective date. There are often extensions so be sure to ask us if you need extra time. No health checks required to change plans.

You can always contact YOUR AGENT directly (email preferable at first) to check if your plan is still a good fit. Be sure to let us know your NAME, your INSURER, your important CLINICS with city name (i.e., Allina Health in Plymouth) and DRUG list. Note that in general we do not need your doctors’ names. If we do, we will let you know. Also let us know if you have been satisfied or not. If not, please be specific. If you are happy and simply checking in to be sure your plan is still competitive, let us know that too.
 
You can contact us through this site or use our direct email addresses:

meganh@thecriterionagency.com for Medicare or individual or family plans

info@thecriterionagency.com for any general questions

If you have been healthy with no new issues or drugs and are satisfied with your plan, but want to do a quick check on your own, here is what you should look for your renewal information:
 
Premium – be sure to locate your new premium.
 
Deductible – check any deductible amounts (particularly for under 65 clients or Medicare drug plans). Note that many Medicare plans do NOT have medical deductibles.
 
Out-of-Pocket Maximum – this amount is VERY important because it tells you the MOST you will have to pay out in a calendar year for medical services (for Medicare) and medical services and drugs (for under 65).
 
Network & Drugs – have you received any network or drug change information that would impact you? The insurer may send that in a separate letter so keep an eye on your mail.
 
Co-Pays/Co-Insurance Amounts – check amounts for any services you routinely use.
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Insurers should contact you directly during the open enrollment if you use a clinic or drug that will not be covered or will experience a coverage change for next year. So, it is important to watch your mail throughout the open enrollment. Sometimes these notices show up a week or two later than your renewal information. If you receive a notice that will impact you, be sure to contact your agent. Note that not all drug tier changes are bad. So, look at your information carefully or contact us if concerned.
 
CONCLUSION: If you are healthy with no new medical or drug changes and the above factors have been reviewed to your satisfaction, you should feel comfortable continuing on your plan next year.

If you receive a renewal notice and then do NOTHING, your plan will auto-renew for next year. You simply pay the new premium in late Dec or early Jan. You will then continue on your plan for the next calendar year. AGAIN, you do not need to do anything to continue on your plan.
 
If for some reason you do not receive a renewal notice be sure to contact us.
 
For NON-Medicare clients who use MNSure, be sure to follow any special instructions sent to you direct from MNSure and/or the insurer to keep your insurance in place.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS WILL BE RESTRICTED IF THERE IS A COVID SURGE. MOST REVIEWS CAN BE HANDLED BY EMAIL, PHONE OR ZOOM.

If you have had a major health change which may include expensive drugs, we may need to do an in-person or zoom meeting to review your situation. I do hold appointments open for more serious health issues (cancer, Parkinson’s, etc).

For most medical and drug changes, these issues can be effectively addressed by email and/or phone calls. If you simply call for an appointment, we will go through a series of questions to determine the most effective way to move forward.

It is our mission to follow-up with ALL clients within 48 business hours. If you do not get a reply within a few business days be sure to re-contact us indicating that. You will go to the top of the list. Email is always the preferred initial method of contact. If you would prefer a telephone call back, please let us know that.
 
It is also our mission to service ALL clients during open enrollment. Over the years, we have effectively assisted clients over the phone, email, mail and in appointments (when appropriate and by zoom this year) to get the right plan during open enrollment.