Photo: Bill Oxford / iStock / Getty Images
The annual Medicare open enrollment period begins Tuesday for current enrollees to make changes to existing coverage.
Also, those Americans who have reached the eligible age of 65 can sign up to join parts of the health care program.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) oversees Medicare which is a federal health insurance program for those 65 and older.
It also covers those who are under 65 who have certain disabilities or conditions.
If you are already enrolled in Medicare and don't want to make any changes, you don't have to do anything.
If you are enrolling for the first time, contact the Social Security Administration as the initial enrollment period spans the six months around your 65th birthday.
Medicare expert Kathy Sarmiento with the South Florida Alliance for Aging says there are exciting pricing and benefit changes to consider for 2025.
Every fall, the Medicare enrollment period allows those who receive Parts A and B to sign up for Part C and Part D coverage:
Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that can be used to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually includes drug coverage (Part D).
Part D is additional coverage that people with either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage can choose to help lower the cost of prescription drugs.
The following can be done between October 15 and December 7 if you already have Medicare Parts A and B:
~ Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (or add or drop drug coverage).
~ Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare.
~ Join, drop or switch to another Medicare drug plan if you're in Original Medicare.