Experts urge Medicare enrollees not to delay signing up

Experts say the Medicare market has been volatile in recent years, and some plans have made changes this year too, so give yourself plenty of time for the enrollment process.

Medicare enrollment is underway and continues through Dec. 7.

Michael Kowal, co-founder of My Medicare Network, a local Medicare insurance agency, said the industry has been unsettled over the past few years. He said this year has been somewhat steadier, but a few carriers are still making major changes to their plans for 2027.

“It’s carrier specific,” he said. “Some carriers last year kind of ripped the Band-Aid off and made some pretty drastic changes (and) are pretty stable for this year. The ones that kicked that can down the road ... this year they're trying to make those changes to catch up to everybody else because they're realizing from a profitability perspective, they're taking on more water than they probably should.”

Kowal said plans overall are raising out-of-pocket maximums while trimming supplemental benefits, a trend that is being seen nationwide.

Medicare recipients should also know that some carriers have pulled out of local markets. Kowal said rural areas have been hit the hardest.

“A lot of the carriers are pulling out of the more rural markets because it's more costly for them to do business in those markets,” he said. “There’s smaller networks out there, which makes the contract negotiations more difficult ... or less profitable for the carriers.”

Wellcare has withdrawn its Medicare Advantage plans across Ohio.

Kowal advised people to watch for annual notice of change letters and to work with an insurance agent.

“It really is so confusing,” he said. “The rules change every year.”

His strongest recommendation, however, is simple: don’t put it off.

“In prior years, the best plans do shut off enrollment early, so do not wait,” Kowal said.

He said some of the most competitive plans stop taking new enrollments around Halloween.