What to Ask Your Agent When Enrolling in Medicare Coverage

eHealth Releases Top 10 Questions Checklist

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwired - December 05, 2014) - Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), which operates eHealthMedicare.com, one of the nation's leading private online marketplaces for private Medicare health insurance products, released a checklist identifying the top ten things Medicare beneficiaries should ask themselves and their licensed agents when selecting Medicare coverage options during the Medicare Annual Election Period.

eHealth's Medicare Annual Election Period Checklist is available for download through the eHealth Media Center.

The 2015 Medicare Annual Election Period began October 15, 2014 and is scheduled to continue through December 7, 2014. This is the period when Medicare beneficiaries are able to fill coverage gaps in Medicare Parts A and B by enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans or in Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement plans.

eHealth's Medicare Annual Election Period Checklist

Ten questions you should discuss with your licensed agent when considering your coverage options during the Medicare Annual Election Period:

1. What can I afford per month, or in an emergency? - Factor in your income from work (if applicable), Social Security, IRA and 401(k) savings, and other sources. Compare this with your regular expenses, including how much you may pay monthly toward prescription drugs. What can you realistically afford in terms of monthly premiums? What kind of deductible could you afford if you had a medical emergency?

2. How much coverage do I need? - Not everyone's coverage needs are the same. How often do you see the doctor or specialist? Do you use prescription drugs on a regular basis? Do you have any medical conditions that require ongoing care? Be honest about your monthly and annual medical needs.

3. Can I save money by switching to a different Medicare prescription drug plan? - The drugs covered under your Medicare prescription drug plan can change from one year to the next. It's always worth checking to see if there's a better plan for your needs. Enter your current prescriptions into eHealth's drug coverage comparison tool to see if there's a better match for your Rx needs. You could save hundreds by switching to a plan optimized for your drugs.

4. Should I look at a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with Rx coverage? - In addition to standard Medicare Parts A and B, you can enroll in a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan and layer supple­mental plans on top of that to cover the gaps. Or you can look at Medicare Advantage plans which effectively replace Parts A and B and often provide prescription drug benefits too. Different rules apply for different plans, so explore these choices with an agent.