People With Medicare

What should I do if I get the Extra Help?

Plans change every year. Each fall, everyone who is in a Medicare drug plan gets a letter from his or her plan saying how the plan's benefits and costs will change in the coming year. This includes how your premiums may change.

Even if you get Extra Help, your plan can change. So you may have some choices to make when you get this letter.

Some plans decide to leave the Medicare market. Others continue, but make changes that would mean that if you have Extra Help you would have to pay a part of the monthly premium if you stay in that plan. In that case:

  • If you are still in the plan that Medicare chose for you, Medicare may put you in a new plan for 2013 to help save you money by not having to pay any part of your 2013 premium. You will get a BLUE letter from Medicare letting you know about this. You can either accept the new plan, or choose a different one - it's up to you.
  • If you are in a different plan than the one Medicare chose for you, and you get Extra Help, your plan may change for 2013. You may have to start paying a premium. If this is the case, you will get a TAN letter from Medicare letting you know about this change. You will have to decide if you will pay the premium yourself or choose a new plan that doesn't have a premium. Medicare will not put you in a new plan automatically. You must make the choice.

See more detail about each of these below.

My BLUE Letter from Medicare Says I'm in a New Plan

If you are still in the plan that Medicare chose for you, then you may get a letter in early November from Medicare telling you that it is putting you in a new plan. This letter will be on BLUE paper. The letter will tell you:

  • How much your current plan will cost if you stay in it next year.
  • What to do if you want to stay in your current plan.
  • The name of the new plan Medicare chose for you, and its telephone number.
  • How much the new plan will cost.
  • What to do if you want to join a new plan that's different from the plan Medicare chose for you.

If Medicare chose a new plan for you, it means that the new plan will cost less than it will cost you if you stay in your current plan. If you want to stay in your current plan, you will need to pay the extra premium yourself.

Read the BLUE letter carefully. Then decide what you want to do. You can:

  • Accept the new plan Medicare chose for you, OR
  • Stick with your current plan, OR
  • Choose a different plan.

IF you decide to accept the new plan Medicare chose for you:

  • Write down your new plan information from the BLUE letter.

IF you decide to stay with your current plan:

  • Tell 1-800-MEDICARE or your current plan that you want to stay with them next year.
  • Plan to pay the extra premium each month.

IF you decide that you want a new plan that's different from the plan Medicare chose for you:

  • Compare the costs and drug coverage of other plans.
  • Choose a new plan.
  • Join the new plan by December 7, 2012 so you are in the plan you want starting on January 1, 2013.

My TAN Letter Says My Premium Will Be Higher

If you need to start paying a premium, the letter from your plan will say what your new premium will be. This letter will come in early November. This letter will be on TAN paper.

If your premium for 2013 will increase, and you don't want to pay the extra premium amount:

  • Compare the costs and drug coverage of other plans. Your TAN letter from Medicare will come with a list of $0 premium plans in your area.
  • Choose a new plan.
  • Join the new plan by December 7, 2012 so you are in the plan you want starting on January 1, 2013.

NEXT: Need help? Find personal help in your area.

Information on this web site was compiled from approved materials of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.