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You can tell by the barrage of commercials that it's Medicare Open Enrollment season. The author of Medicare for You: A Smart Person’s Guide,Diane Omdahl of 65 Incorporated,  is back to help us sort through the noise, learn what's new this year and how to avoid the common mistakes she sees people make in Medicare Open Enrollment.

Diane Omdahl joins us from Wisconsin.

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Bio







The author of Medicare for You: A Smart Person’s Guide, Diane Omdahl, RN, MS., is a nationally recognized Medicare expert and the author of Medicare and You: A Smart Person’s Guide.

In 2012, she co-founded 65 Incorporated, a company that provides one-on-one consultations to individuals dealing with Medicare. Her first company, Beacon Health, provided homecare agencies with Medicare compliance guidance from 1987 until she sold it in 2008. Diane has served as a technical expert for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (the organization that runs the Medicare program) and is a frequent speaker on Medicare-related issues. In addition to being a registered nurse, Diane holds a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration. Diane is a Forbes.com contributor on the topic of Medicare and has been featured in many national publications including the Washington Post, CBS MoneyWatch, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal Market Watch, Kiplinger, and many others.

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For More on Diane Omdahl



65 Incorporated

Website


Medicare for You: A Smart Person’s Guide

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Podcast Episodes You May Like

Medicare for You – Diane Omdahl

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The Measure of Our Age – MT Connolly

The Mindful Body – Ellen Langer





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Wise Quotes

On Misconceptions of Medicare Open Enrollment



"I think the biggest misconception people have is that Open Enrollment also applies to the Medigap policies, the supplemental insurance. We hear from people who aren't happy with their Medicare supplement plan and they think they can change it during open enrollment. We've heard from people who didn't get a Medicare supplement or Medigap policy when first eligible, and they think now they can add it like if they would with a drug plan. However, Open Enrollment doesn't apply to Medigap policies. If you want to change your Medigap policy, you can apply at any time during the year, and medical underwriting may apply. If you are trying to change from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare supplement Medigap policy, there's only two times you can drop that Advantage plan and one of them is coming up. So we say shop for your Medicare supplement first, get your guaranteed acceptance in hand and then dis-enroll from the Advantage plan during Open Enrollment and you'll be good to go January 1."



 

On Common Mistakes with Medicare Open Enrollment

"I think waiting until the last minute, then they can't get through or something gets messed up. The mistake I already mentioned: assuming that you don't have to do anything if you love your plan. That happens. I did a client last year. I did his wife early this year, and she says, I'm not supposed to tell you this, Diane, my husband didn't take any drugs. He was in the cheapest plan that he could be in, but then he didn't open his Annual Notice. And come to find out, I think this was two years ago, the plan he was in was discontinued and he was enrolled automatically and that went from $10 to $69. It's a mistake - not opening your Annual Notice of Changes as far as Open Enrollment goes."

On What to Do with Medicare Open Enrollment


"Don't pay attention to the commercials. Look at your Annual Notice of Changes and then do your homework. So my words to people, and again,