Your Quarterly Medicare Newsletter

Are you chasing a nose that won’t stop running or desperately trying to leave your itchy eyes alone? If so, that can mean only one thing: Allergy season has arrived. Read on to learn how Medicare Advantage plan participants can leverage their coverage during this sneezy time of year.

If allergy medication works well for you, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage included. These plans can help you manage allergy symptoms and maintain your routine during the allergy season. You’ll need to check with your plan provider to find out if your allergy medication is covered, but in general, these plans can be an excellent way to defray drug costs during what can be an expensive time of year.¹

All Aboard for Medicare Advantage

Before you load up the car or hop on a plane this season, make sure you know how your Medicare Advantage plan functions when you’re away from home. If you're staying in the U.S. for your travels, Medicare Advantage plans ensure you're covered for emergency medical care. However, your coverage depends on your service area and your plan provider for international travel.

In general, Medicare Advantage plans include a network of providers, and some plans (such as HMOs) are more restrictive about out-of-network services, so you’ll pay more for these services. Other plans (such as PPOs or private fee-for-service plans) are more flexible, although you’ll probably still pay more for out-of-network health care. It pays to do a little research! Some Medicare Advantage plans offer “visitor” or “travel” programs for coverage while you’re out of the country.²

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Special Enrollment and You

Do you need to make a change to your coverage, but you missed Open Enrollment? Never fear! You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen, such as moving or losing your insurance coverage. These periods, when changes are allowed, are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs).

However, the rules about when and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP. Make sure to visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to learn more about your particular situation.³

Key 2025 Dates & Deadlines

January 1: Medicare General Enrollment Begins
January 1: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Begins
March 31: Medicare General Enrollment Ends
March 31: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Ends
April: Flu Season Ends
September: Private plans send notice if there will be any change in cost, coverage, or service area
October 15: Medicare Open Enrollment Period Begins
November: Flu season begins
December 7: Medicare Open Enrollment Ends

<sup>1. Medicare.gov, 2025
2. Medicare.gov, 2025
3. Medicare.gov, 2025</sup>