Between patient schedules, practice management, and retirement planning, finding time to make a decision regarding Medicare is a challenge for any physician. However, with Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) running from October 15 to December 7, taking a few minutes to review your options can prevent costly coverage mistakes.
Open Enrollment is when you ask whether your current insurance is still the right choice. Maybe your premiums have increased. Your family’s needs may have changed. Your practice may have grown. Or you may simply want to know whether another option could offer better coverage or savings.
We’ve all done it. You sign up for a streaming app, a gym membership, or extra cloud storage, and with your busy schedule as a physician, you quickly forget about it. Then, quietly, that recurring charge hits your credit card every 30 days while you aren’t looking.
It’s late December. You’ve just wrapped up a demanding week at the clinic, your bags are packed, and you’re navigating a busy airport terminal for a long-awaited family trip. Then comes the announcement. Your connecting flight is delayed indefinitely, and your luggage is stuck two states away.
Most insurance products have a specific job. Health insurance is essential and helps cover the cost of medical care. Disability insurance replaces a portion of your income if you're unable to practice. Critical illness insurance provides a cash benefit following a diagnosis that can help with many of the expenses that often accompany a serious illness.
Online search engines and algorithms are great for fast, surface-level information. But if you have ever had a patient walk into your office after spending ten minutes on the internet, completely convinced they have successfully diagnosed a complex health condition, you understand that a quick online search lacks context and professional judgment.
Many physicians continue practicing well beyond age 65. If you're one of them, deciding whether to remain on your practice's group health plan or to enroll in Medicare may seem straightforward—but the right decision often depends on your practice's size.
Every day you help patients through life’s unexpected moments. Sometimes, you’re the one facing them.
