New Open Enrollment Option & Medicare Coverage for ESRD

With Open Enrollment approaching, knowing your options for Medicare coverage is important, especially if you want to change your plan. Starting this Open Enrollment, if you have ESRD, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan during Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7, 2020) for coverage starting January 1, 2021.

In many cases, you’ll need to use health care providers who participate in the plan’s network and service area. Before you enroll, you may want to check with your providers and the plan you’re considering to make sure the providers you currently see (like your dialysis facility or kidney doctor), or want to see in the future (like a transplant specialist), are in the plan’s network.

Remember, you can choose to get your Medicare coverage through Original Medicare, or you can choose to get coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). You can buy supplemental coverage from a private company to help pay your out-of-pocket costs. If you want drug coverage, you can add a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).

A Medicare Advantage Plan is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D. Most plans offer extra benefits—like vision, hearing, dental, and more. Learn more about what Medicare Advantage Plans cover.

Learn about your Medicare coverage options, see how Medicare Advantage Plans work for people with ESRD, and shop for plans.