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Question: I signed-up for a 2025 Medicare Advantage plan during the October 15 - December 7, 2024 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. What can I do next year if I don’t like the Advantage plan I enrolled in?

Answer: You will be allowed to change Advantage plans or return to original Medicare during next year’s Advantage Plan Open Enrollment Period between January 1 - March 31, 2025.

Also, there may be various Special Enrollment Periods next year that would allow you to change or terminate your Advantage plan mid-year if certain circumstances occur, such as, you move out of your Advantage plan’s coverage area or you become eligible for Medicaid or become a resident in a long-term medical care facility.

Otherwise, you would need to stay enrolled in your Advantage plan throughout 2025; but you could change or terminate your Advantage plan during next year’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7, 2025). Your new coverage then would start 1/1/26.

Q: I recently had some changes to my health, which means new prescriptions. These medications aren’t covered by my recent plan. Is there anything I can do now that Medicare Open Enrollment has ended?

A: In the past, you could only make changes to your Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage during Medicare’s Fall Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) from October 15 through December 7. That new coverage would begin January 1 of the following year.

Now, if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can also change your Part D coverage during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP). This runs January 1 through March 31 of each year. To change your drug coverage during this period, you must disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and join a different Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage or Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan.

Changes made during the Medicare Advantage OEP will take effect the first of the month following the month you enroll. If you want to keep your Medicare Advantage Plan, you should not use the MA OEP to change drug coverage. Keep in mind, if you go back to Original Medicare now, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy without being underwritten. This means you could pay higher premiums and have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions or be denied coverage.

The Medicare Plan Finder can help you find, compare, and enroll in a new Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare drug plan in your area. There is also a Special Circumstances Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Though it is not a new SEP, beneficiaries for many years have had the ability to contact 1-800-MEDICARE and explain the circumstances around their Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug choice/enrollment and request for an exception to
the current enrollment rules. CMS recently added a note on the Medicare.gov website on the special exceptions SEP that reads “if you believe you made the wrong plan choice because of inaccurate or misleading information, including using Plan Finder, call 1-800-Medicare and explain your situation.”

If you or someone you know have questions about Medicare or any other Medicare related topic, contact SHIP at (800) 452-4800, or online at www.medicare.in.gov. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a free and impartial counseling program for people with Medicare. SHIP is
provided by the Administration for Community Living and the Indiana Department of Insurance. For questions about this article, contact
Sarah Peeper, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you get an unexpected letter from your mortgage company, look closely! According to numerous BBB Scam Tracker reports, the letters are a deceptive solicitation for a home warranty service.

Here’s how to spot the scheme.

You receive a letter that appears to come from your mortgage provider. It’s allegedly from the company’s “Home Warranty Dept,” and claims that your home warranty must be renewed.   Before worrying, look closely at the letter and see what’s happening. One BBB Scam Tracker report noticed: “At the very bottom of the letter in small print is the comment, ‘Not all consumers have previous coverage. We are not affiliated with your current mortgage.’” Another homeowner reported, “The mailing is made to look like a check: it has the tear-away sides and inside is a ‘Renewal Fee Voucher’ for $199.00. It’s not a check: it’s an attempt to get you sign up for a home warranty."  

If you don’t read the fine print (or it doesn’t appear in the letter you receive), you’ll likely be concerned your home warranty has lapsed, and your mortgage is at risk. You won't be dealing with your mortgage lender if you call the number and “renew” your warranty. Instead, you will have given money and personal information to a company that employs deceptive advertising tactics.  

One consumer shared their experience with BBB Scam Tracker, "My grandmother received a paper in the mail that said, Final Notice. She called the number on the paper. The man on the other line [name redacted] he went by, tried giving her a "home warranty" deal of $234. This mail she recieved looks like a check with the amount $199 on it with her name in bold letters. He agreed that her payment would be that monthly. She gave him her debit card info where he took exactly $199.86 out on June 18th 2024 for this "home warranty."

This scheme is similar to the extended car warranty calls. The product may be real, but there are several things to consider before buying an extended warranty. Also, you want to avoid doing business with a company that resorts to misleading sales techniques.

How to avoid similar scams:

Go to the source. If you receive any correspondence about your mortgage or home warranty that you aren’t sure about, don’t use the contact information in the message. Instead, call your lender directly to inquire about the matter. Look up their contact information separately on your mortgage bill or search for your lender’s customer service line on their website.

Watch out for high-pressure offers or threats. Don’t let scammers pressure you to act immediately, even if they say you could lose your home. If someone tries to use scare tactics, stop communicating with them and contact your bank or lender directly.

Never provide your financial information over the phone to someone you don't know. If you're being asked to urgently pay for something over the phone, hang up. Never provide your credit card or banking information over the phone, and be aware of common red flags of scams like paying for something with a prepaid gift card, a wire transfer, or through a digital wallet app.

If you run across a scam, report it to BBB at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

 If making your own Thanksgiving meal or getting an invite is not on the horizon this year, you may want to plan ahead. There are several options in the local area.

There is a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Hardinsburg Senior Citizens Building from 12 noon—2 p.m. The center is located at 183 W. Cheshire Lane. For more information, please call 812-472-9059. There is no set cost for the meal, but a “free will offering” will be accepted. This will be the third year for the event.

McDonalds, 601 S. Main St., Salem, will operate on a shortened schedule. They will open at 5 a.m. and close at 11 a.m., and then reopen at 4 p.m.

There will be a $15 buffet at Mamma Rosa’s, 201 Arthur St, Salem. They will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until supplies last. Their Facebook page reads, “We will also be delivering meals for those in need! All you need to do for that is call us and we will get your/whoever it is in needs name, the address, and a phone number! We will begin delivering those meals around 11 Thanksgiving Day! Share with all your friends, we want to make sure we help as many as we can! Also, anyone who wants to volunteer to deliver the meals can help also.” The number is 812-883-6296.

Jay C Food Stores may have their complete carry-out Thanksgiving meals this year. The cost for the meal is around $90, and it must be ordered before Nov. 28.

Other suggestions would be to go to Joe Hubers Family Farm and Restaurant, 2421 Engle Road, Starlight, or drive to Clarksville and visit Bob Evans and Golden Corral.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

November 26, 1918 A statue of James Whitcomb Riley is unveiled in front of the Hancock County Courthouse in Greenfield, primarily funded by pennies contributed by school children across the country.

November 26, 1878 (Marshall) "Major" Taylor, American track cyclist (first African-American world champion; 1899 World Track Championships), born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 1932).

November 27, 1909 Harold Handley is born in LaPorte. He becomes the 39th Governor of Indiana.

November 29, 1806 Vincennes University is incorporated. Founded by William Henry Harrison, it is one of two schools in the nation started by a President. The other is University of Virginia (Thomas Jefferson).

November 30, 1863 The U. S. Department of War authorizes Governor Olive P. Morton to raise a Civil War infantry regiment composed of African-Americans.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in the basement of the Indiana Statehouse, where the horse stables were, when the Statehouse was first opened.