For 2018 Medicare coverage, open enrollment is in the fall of 2017, from October 15 to December 7. Changes made during this open enrollment period will take effect on January 1, 2018.  During this annual enrollment period (AEP) Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to various aspects of your coverage.

They can switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa.
They can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another.
And if they didn’t enroll in a Medicare Part D plan when they were first eligible, they can do so during the general open enrollment, although a late enrollment penalty may apply.

So, what does this mean for providers?

This is the perfect time to consider your own provider status. If you have never registered as a provider with Medicare (either participating or non-participating) you are prohibited from providing care to any Medicare beneficiary, even if they pay cash. To legally provide care to this ever-growing population, you MUST register with Medicare. Chiropractors DO NOT have the option of ‘opting out’.

KMK Consultants has a team of Medicare Specialists whose job is to seamlessly navigate the application maze and ensure that your application sails through as quickly as possible. This can be valuable for any provider who is new to your team as well.

For more information on Medicare Enrollment services or any of our Credentialing services, call Client Services at 866.933.1381 ext. 702 or visit online at The Chiro Buzz.