What You Need To Know Before October 7 About Open Enrollment, Medicare Advantage Plans And The New Prior Authorization Rules

The first big issue for a Medicare beneficiary is whether to enroll in original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. The decision can be reviewed each year during the open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 through December 7.

A major difference between original Medicare and Advantage plans is that most Advantage plan require prior authorization before a type of medical care is covered by the plan. The plan often has to approve not only the care or service but also the doctor or other medical provider.