(Bloomfield, CT, Thursday, November 7, 2019) –  As family and friends gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, the topic of health will inevitably come up. For many people 65 and older and those with certain disabilities, shopping for their Medicare Advantage plan is top-of-mind right now. The Medicare Annual Election Period ends on December 7 and it is the only time each year to shop for these plans.

More than 22 million people have a Medicare Advantage plan, accounting for 35 percent of Medicare enrollees. The plans are so popular for several reasons: They offer robust health benefits plus extras such as vision, dental, fitness, drug coverage and more.

Shannon Adams, head of customer experience at Cigna, has tips for making the most of this valuable opportunity to shop around and possibly make a change in health care plans.

SOUNDBITE #1:

HEALTH CARE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS YOU’LL EVER MAKE. SO, I RECOMMEND DOING YOUR HOMEWORK, AS YOU WOULD FOR ANY MAJOR PURCHASE. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET HELP – MEDICARE IS A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT IT CAN BE COMPLICATED. I KNOW FIRSTHAND – MY FATHER RECENTLY TURNED SIXTY-FIVE AND HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS. TALK TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO KNOW THE PROCESS. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK MEDICARE’S PLAN FINDER TOOL ONLINE.

SOUNDBITE #2:

EVERYONE’S HEALTH CAN CHANGE OVER TIME, SO SHOP FOR A PLAN BASED ON WHAT YOU’LL NEED NEXT YEAR. SOME PLANS OFFER EXTRAS LIKE VISION, DENTAL AND DRUG COVERAGE, EVEN NO-COST ACCESS TO FITNESS CENTERS OR TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTORS AND PHARMACIES. ALSO, KNOW IF THE PLAN YOU’RE CONSIDERING INCLUDES YOUR FAVORITE HOSPITAL AND DOCTORS.

Take some time over the holiday to talk with your loved ones about your health care options. You can also check health plans’ websites or call their customer service number for more information.