Contact: CMS Media Relations
(202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries
Medicare continues to offer seniors and people with disabilities flexibility and choices while providing high quality healthcare services. Whether through Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare Advantage, or the prescription drug benefit (Part D), 1,137,525 beneficiaries in Wisconsin continue to have access to the benefits that Medicare offers.
In Wisconsin in 2019:
- 101 Medicare Advantage plans are available.
- 100 percent of people with Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
- $0 is the lowest monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan.
- 100 percent of people with a Medicare Advantage plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than what they paid in 2018.
- 28 stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans are available. All Medicare beneficiaries have access to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
- 100 percent of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than what they paid in 2018.
- 23 percent of people with a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan get Extra Help (also called the low-income subsidy, or LIS).
- $14.00 is the lowest monthly premium for a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan.
2019 Medicare Open Enrollment Important Dates
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15, 2018, to December 7, 2018. People with Medicare should take the opportunity to review their healthcare needs for the upcoming year and determine if changes to their current coverage are necessary. Plan costs change each year, so everyone with a Medicare health or drug plan should check to make sure their plan still meets their health needs and budget. By shopping available plans and comparing costs, beneficiaries may be able to find a Medicare health or drug plan with better coverage or a lower premium in 2019.
September 2018
- The “2019 Medicare & You” Handbooks are mailed to Medicare beneficiaries. The handbook can be accessed online at: https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-resources/medicare-you-handbook/download-medicare-you-in-different-formats.
- Health and drug plans begin notifying enrollees about changes to their plans in 2019.
October 2018
- Beneficiaries can begin shopping and comparing plans on Medicare.gov starting October 1, 2018.
- Beneficiaries should watch their mail for notices from Medicare with information about changes in 2019.
- Medicare health and drug plan 2019 Star Ratings will be available on Medicare.gov on or around October 10, 2018.
- Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2018.
December 2018
- Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7, 2018.
January 2019
- Medicare plan coverage for 2019 begins January 1, 2019.
