topic Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment in Community Chat

Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:54:16 GMT

Finally in today's mail my husband received the information about the new updated price for his Medicare Supplement for 2026. To me it seems as tho this information should have been mailed out when open enrollment started. Does anyone know if there is a guide as to when this information is supposed to be sent out?

If he wants to look for another provider, time is running short.

thanks

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Cakers3 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:02:18 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

I know Advantage Plans should send the Annual Notice of Change by Sept. 30.

Supplemental plans I believe are not required on a specific timeline but it's advised to contact the provider if no notice is not received by early October.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

CelticCrafter — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:09:36 GMT

I agree @Mom2Dogs by the time we get it, it's almost too late not that we ever plan on switching to an Advantage plan but one never knows for sure.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

781Florist — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:12:11 GMT

My BCBS Medicare supplement 2026 premium info was sent to me at the very end of October. I will see an increase of about $26 a month which in light of all the horror stories I had been hearing regarding premium hikes did not seem too bad to me.

The Part B increase of almost $18 meant that I was looking at about a $44 increase monthly......until.....

My Part D plan ceased to be offered in 2026 and so I needed to shop for a new one. The new plan monthly premium with the same exact coverage and mail order pharmacy will be $12 LESS per month.

All told, my insurance coverage total for 2026 will go up

only $32!!!

Shop around and if possible utilize your senior center SHINE resources. They are invaluable!

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:13:20 GMT

@Cakers3 I did contact them and they told me it would be coming 'soon'.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:16:12 GMT

My husbands policy we up $60.00/month. He has Medical Mutual.

I don't even know that he can/will switch but it's the principle to me......

He was a state employee and can't just go out and get his own insurance or he will lose other benefits so now he has to call them (the state) and probably hold for ever to talk to someone...but again not sure he can switch plans or not..some here say they switch plans others say it is very difficult.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

sunshine45 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:20:05 GMT

my ex husband just received his notice today and it was dated november 3rd. my mother has not received hers yet.

he has no plans to switch his insurance, but his DID go up from $372 to $417. he has plan F with carefirst in maryland. if you have it automatically paid you can save a whole $24 a year. LOL

havent received any information yet regarding the plan for his medicines.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Cakers3 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:32:59 GMT

@Mom2Dogs

Yep. The infamous "soon". It's too bad they are not held to a timeline.
On top of that the $$ increase.

I hope it all works out and the coverage will be all he needs.

Good luck 🤞

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:22:09 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@Cakers3 I did contact them and they told me it would be coming 'soon'.

@Mom2Dogs When they give me that "soon" bs, I always request "nicely" please transfer me to a supv, manager or director who can give me estimates in "days, weeks, months & years."

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

gidgetgh — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:22:10 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Finally in today's mail my husband received the information about the new updated price for his Medicare Supplement for 2026. To me it seems as tho this information should have been mailed out when open enrollment started. Does anyone know if there is a guide as to when this information is supposed to be sent out?

If he wants to look for another provider, time is running short.

thanks

@Mom2Dogs - the open enrollment period is for Advantage plans and Part D prescription coverage only.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:37:14 GMT

@gidgetgh Understood but I wonder why when he was talking to the state (there is a company that handles his insurance as an ex employee) about his Part D they suggested he find out what his premium for his supplement would be in January and switch if he wanted to?

I was under the impression that he had to switch carriers before the 1st of the year....maybe because his insurance is thru the state as an ex employee? I don't know

I might have to send them a message and ask...

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Carmie — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:46:08 GMT

In most cases, it is not advisable to switch or try to switch companies for Medicare supplements, or to change your supplement within the same company.

Some insurance companies won't allow you to switch, If they do, they will make you pay more for your age as well as pre existing conditions. Some states do not allow you to switch at all unless you move or your company goes out of business.

Most supplemental plans will go up as you age. They are priced differently for different ages. Expect higher prices.

There are a few insurance companies that price at the community rates, but they are rare.

Open enrollment is mainly for RX coverage and Advantage Plans.

If your husband has coverage with the state retirement plan, it's not going to be easy to drop it and choose something else if it can even be done.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:31 GMT

Thanks....the person that he was speaking with last month on the phone about his drug plan, planted that seed in my head about his supplement....so I guess I was irked for no reason.....

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Stray — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:44:00 GMT

We were notified during the summer that my former company was dropping health insurance coverage to retirees. They gave us a $3800 HRA to be shared with my husband, we only got that if we signed up with the service that the company contracted with to counsel us as to choices. Through the company, I paid $218 for coverage for my husband and I which included a Medigap plan thru AETNA for both of us + dental & rx via express scripts. A real bargain & I guess I should be happy for the years I had the retiree benefits. I signed up for an F plan from AETNA for both of us, wow big difference plus I purchased dental & an rx plan for both of us. A few of our doctors have stopped taking Medicare & we are with them long term & at this stage of the game & with health issues, I'm not shopping around for new doctors. Both doctors are in NYC & a third doctor said he's no longer accepting Medicare next year. All three doctors are members of AETNA so I took a chance & submitted the claims to AETNA that could not be submitted to Medicare from our two doctors with a letter of explanation & they paid 80% so I was happy. I don't know if I'll have the same option with my new plan as my old one was private & subsidized by my company.

Re: Notification time line for updated pricing/Medicare supplelment

Rockycoast — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:45:09 GMT

We received our 2026 Medicare catalog at the end of October, beginning of November. Have already compared policies and even with an increase in payment we are sticking with our Advantage policy. Works great for us. No need to change. We are still in good health, only 3 meds (that are still covered) between the 2 of us.

I would think that the info should be sent out asap giving people the chance to compare policies. They started mailing them out in September. You can also go to Medicare.gov and download an electronic version. Sign up ends on Dec.7th