Making Changes to Medicare Insurance in Texas

There are two types of changes you can make with Medicare: the changes you can only make during an enrollment period and changes you can make outside enrollment periods. Enrollment changes include switching coverage and updating information about life-changing events. Changes that can be made outside enrollment include reporting changes to your estimated annual income and updating your personal information and information about your emergency contact.

To make changes during enrollment periods, you need to know and understand the different enrollment periods and how they work.

• Open Enrollment Period: This runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. During this period, you can:
• Change from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or the other way around.
• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Enroll in a Part D Prescription Drug Plan for the first time (a late enrollment penalty may apply).
• Change from one Part D plan to another.
• Leave your Part D coverage entirely (you won't be able to re-enroll until the following year’s open enrollment period, and there may be a late enrollment penalty if you do).
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: This is from January 1 to March 31 every year. During this time, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan or convert to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan).
• Special Enrollment Period: They function in unique situations. Because of specific occurrences in your life, Medicare permits you to change your plan. Different rules apply to the different special events that may happen. Typical examples of special circumstances that make you eligible for changing your plan include:
• When you change your living residence, and it is outside your plan’s coverage area
• When you lose your Medicaid eligibility
• When Medicare terminates or punishes your plan’s contract
• When your plan is leaving Medicare.

When such events occur, Medicare permits you to transfer plans immediately rather than waiting for the next open enrollment period, ensuring that you are not left without coverage for an extended length of time.

In all, you can only change Medicare Advantage Plans or switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage at certain times of the year. When using these enrollment periods, make sure to enroll promptly to minimize coverage gaps.

If you want to change your Medicare Advantage plan regarding the services that your plan covers, you should consider contacting your plan’s provider. You may not be able to do this for Original Medicare because your coverage services are pretty much fixed.

Can I Make Changes to the Coverage of Medicare Insurance Policy?

Yes, you can make changes to the coverage of your Medicare plan in Texas. Usually, these changes have to be made during an open enrollment period. However, if you experienced a life-changing event, you will qualify for special enrollment that will allow you to make changes. To make changes, you can either contact your insurance provider or call Medicare on (800) 633-4227 or (877) 486-2048 for TTY.

What Can Be Changed in a Medicare Insurance Policy?

There are a few things you can change online through your Medicare account. They include:

• Changing or correcting mistakes to name, date of birth, Social Security number, and other personal information
• Providing or updating your emergency contact list
• Entering the information of your preferred health care providers

During open enrollment, or if you qualify for special enrollment, you can change Medicare plans. That is, you can do any of the following:

• Move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
• Move from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
• Change Medicare Advantage plans
• Change Prescription Coverage plans.

Whichever one you want to do, you can call Medicare on (800) 633-4227 or (877) 486-2048 for TTY or contact a licensed insurance agent in Texas.

How Can I Make Changes to an Active Medicare Insurance Policy?

You can make changes to your Medicare insurance: online, by phone, or in person.

• Online through your Medicare account
• Phone by calling Medicare on (800) 633-4227 or (877) 486-2048 for TTY
• In-person from any local Social Security office or a licensed insurance agent in Texas.

Can I Change Coverage Amount After Paying for Medicare Insurance Policy

No. Medicare coverage fees are mostly fixed in Texas. For example, for Original Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publishes the premium and out-of-pocket costs of Medicare Parts A and B. Private insurance companies also provide the cost of the Medicare Advantage, Prescription Coverage, and Medigap plans that they offer. You can check and compare the cost of these plans and sign up for them, but you cannot change the amount after enrolling. You can only switch plans during an enrollment period.

Can I Add People to Medicare Insurance?

No. Medicare in Texas provides health coverage on an individual basis, not group or family. Thus, it only covers the enrolled beneficiary. You cannot add spouses, children, family members, or other dependents to it. To have Medicare coverage, you must be eligible on your own.

Can I Remove People from Medicare Insurance?

No. Medicare is individual health insurance that covers the enrolled person only. You cannot add people to or remove people from a Medicare plan in Texas. Spouses cannot be under the same Medicare plan. The same goes for children, family members, or dependents.

What Can Be Changed in Medicare Insurance Without Your Consent?

Nothing can be changed in your Medicare coverage without your consent. Although, if you are disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage, you will automatically be moved to Original Medicare.