Ask the Benefits Advisor

Annual Open Enrollment

Question: I’d like to have more coverage for dental and vision. What are my options? Can I add an individual dental plan to my Medicare Advantage plan, which has limited dental coverage?

Answer: Alight offers several options for dental and vision coverage, and even bundled plans that include dental, vision and hearing coverage. Adding this type of plan can be a great way to complement the coverage offered by your Medicare Advantage Plan. You can shop online to see which plans are available in your area and might fit your needs or discuss it with a licensed Benefits Advisor. You can add these plans at any time – there’s no need to wait for open enrollment.

Shop for dental, vision and hearing coverage.

If I switch health plans, will I be guaranteed coverage with the new plan?

Answer: The answer is “maybe,” because it depends on the state you live in, what Medicare plan you have currently and what you’re applying for. If you switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from Medicare Supplement to Medicare Advantage, there’s no underwriting, and you’re guaranteed coverage. If you’re switching from one Medicare Supplement plan to another or from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement, you may be subject to underwriting, meaning that you aren’t guaranteed coverage.

Also keep in mind that you can switch Medicare Supplement plans any time, but you can only switch to Medicare Advantage during open enrollment or if you have special circumstances and qualify for special enrollment.

Question: Can my spouse and I have different types of Medicare plans?

Answer: Yes. One of the benefits of buying coverage through Alight compared to an employer’s group offering is that you and your spouse can each choose the coverage that meets your individual needs. You don’t have to choose the same plan.

Question: Can I go back to a Medicare Supplement plan after I’ve had Medicare Advantage, and vice-versa?

Answer: If you want to go from a Medicare Supplement plan to Medicare Advantage, you can do so during open enrollment – no underwriting involved. If you want to go from Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplement, the answer is maybe, as you’ll likely be subject to underwriting. The exception is when you qualify for “guaranteed issue rights,” which means an insurance company can’t refuse to sell you a Medicare Supplement policy. Learn more about guaranteed issue rights.

Question: I’ve moved and I need to change my mailing address. I’ve already changed it through Medicare. How do I change it with Alight?

Answer: If your address, email or phone number changes, you’ll need to do two things:

Log in to your Alight account and change it on your account profile.
Contact your retirement benefits administrator.

This will ensure that your information is changed permanently in both systems. You can also contact us for help. Please note that we cannot accept address updates via email.

About licensed Benefits Advisors

Our licensed Benefits Advisors can give you personalized, unbiased guidance to help you make informed decisions about your health care. Their goal is to make sure you have the right plan for your needs. To speak with a licensed Benefits Advisor, please contact us to make an appointment.