Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), recently told ABC 10News what seniors should expect when it comes to this year’s open enrollment period.
Medicare open enrollment should operate like normal despite the government shutdown affecting thousands of federal employees.
Why It Matters
Open enrollment for Medicare takes place from October 15 to December 7.
Congress, meanwhile, is at a standstill as Democrats push to update the latest spending bill to keep coverage for millions of Americans under Medicaid.
What To Know
Oz told ABC 10News that Medicaid spending is back at pre-pandemic levels, adding that the new rules and work requirements will prevent fraud and abuse in the long term.
“In order to preserve those vulnerable populations that we should always be out there protecting, we’ve got to go one step further and make sure that we protect the integrity of the system,” Oz said in the interview.
“And so we did that by asking folks to go back to work if they’re able-bodied, and we’re providing systems and tools to help them do that, and we’re going to check because if you don’t check, some people won’t work. And those of course got people upset. We believe we can do it successfully, and that’s a major focus of the administration.”
Concerning this year’s open enrollment, Oz urged seniors to use the tools on Medicare.gov to make the most well-informed decision on their health coverage for the next year.
“Medicare is the crown jewel of our social safety net system,” he said. “It’s yours. We pay into it that little bit of your check every 2.9 percent every time you get a paycheck. That’s what it pays for. And when you don’t take advantage of it, don’t use it. It makes me feel badly because I run the program, and of the 69 million people who could benefit, a good number have figured out that Medicare.gov is a smart place to go, but I want everyone to understand that.”
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “Most Medicare services remain largely open despite the government shutdown, with open enrollment beginning on schedule as it usually would. However, Dr. Oz’s comments do shed light on the growing role of health insurance in this ongoing debate in D.C. While Dr. Oz leans into the positives of additional requirements for recipients being implemented to reduce fraud, others are raising the alarm on how upcoming revisions to the program could lead to more financial hurdles for current and future recipients.”
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: “The biggest difference this year is the technology. The system has become more integrated, putting all your data in one place and making it easier to compare and make decisions. That’s the talking point — accessibility and ease of use.”
What Happens Next?
So far, the government shutdown has not affected Medicare operations, but Thompson said certain services could be delayed in the coming weeks.
“As for the shutdown, it hasn’t disrupted Medicare operations so far. But as we head into open enrollment, expect slower website performance and longer hold times. It’s the calm before the storm, so plan ahead if you need to make changes,” he said.
