Research shows that about 90 percent of people living with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. rely on Medicare — a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or with certain disabilities — for their health care coverage. To help our community navigate Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, we’ve gathered resources including: 

1. Information about open enrollment and changes to Medicare going into effect on January 1, 2025. 
2. Practical tips to help you prepare to enroll. 
3. A 2025 open enrollment video guide for people living with Parkinson’s or other chronic conditions. 
4. An opportunity to advocate for improvements to Medicare. 

What is Medicare Open Enrollment? 

Each year from October 15 to December 7, you can sign up to receive health care and prescription drug coverage through Medicare. If you’re already enrolled and want to stay on your current plan, you don’t need to do anything to keep it. If you want to change plans, you can do that during this period. Any changes you make will go into effect on January 1 of the following year. 

Your plan’s costs, coverage and which providers and pharmacies are in-network can change, and so can your health care needs. It’s important to review your plan each year to make sure you know how it covers the Parkinson’s medications you take now or are considering for the next year. You’ll also want to understand how your plan covers visits to your doctors and other Parkinson’s-related care like physical therapy, exercise classes or medical equipment.

New Patient Protections in 2025 

There are changes coming to Medicare’s prescription drug program that will affect how you pay for your medications beginning in 2025. These new provisions only apply to those enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that includes prescription drug coverage.  

1. Out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs covered by your plan will be capped at $2,000 per calendar year. Once you spend $2,000, you won’t have to make any additional payments on your covered prescription drugs for the rest of the year. 
2. You will have the option to pay prescription drug costs in monthly payments instead of all at once at the pharmacy. This new program, referred to as the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, is voluntary so you will need to elect to participate. You may opt in during this open enrollment period or anytime during the year. 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and our nationwide network of advocates urged Congress to pass the legislation that brought these changes to fruition. We hope that Medicare beneficiaries living with Parkinson’s, who often have high prescription drug costs, will feel some financial relief thanks to these new patient protections. 

Questions about Part D? Download this guide from Medicare Access for Patients Rx to find learn more.  

Prepare for and Participate in Medicare Open Enrollment 

• Check your mail. You should receive an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) from Medicare in the mail informing you of any changes to your existing Medicare plan including coverage, costs and physicians leaving your network or service areas. Most people receive their ANOC by September 30. Please read this document thoroughly to determine whether you need to adjust your coverage. 

• Review your current plan. Carefully review your current Medicare plan and decide if it will meet your needs for the year ahead. If you like your coverage and it’s still available for the coming year, you don’t need to take any action to keep it. 

• Enroll in or change plans on Medicare.gov. If you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time or you want to change plans, review the 2025 health care and prescription drug plans to see what is available to you. Log in or create an online account with Medicare.gov to access a personalized list of your medications, compare your current plans to other options and see prices that factor in any help you get with drug costs. 

• Keep an eye out for fraud. You also may receive brochures in the mail or phone calls from scammers that claim to offer Medicare prescription drug and health plans. Err on the side of caution and report anything suspicious to Medicare’s fraud department by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Learn more about how to protect yourself from Medicare fraud. 

• Get personalized help. You can receive free help from health insurance counselors in your area by reaching out to your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. They also can tell you if you qualify for help paying for your Medicare coverage. You can also call or start an online chat directly with Medicare experts to request help or get more information. 

Watch Now: Guide to Open Enrollment for Parkinson’s Patients 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) partnered with the Center for Medicare Advocacy to host a webinar that covers:  

• An overview of the annual enrollment period and available plan options, 

• Information about new changes for 2025, 

• Practical tips for choosing your coverage and  

• Considerations for people with Parkinson’s disease and other progressive or chronic conditions including costs, health care provider networks and prescription drug coverage. 

View the presentation. 

A Call to Action: Advocate for Improvements to Medicare 

MJFF regularly advocates for changes to government programs like Medicare that make a difference for people living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. The new improvements to Part D are proof that advocacy works, and we’re not stopping there!  

You can join our continued advocacy by filling out this simple online form to urge your representatives in Congress to support a bipartisan bill that would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to report out on the success of the new Medicare Prescription Payment Plan and how they plan to improve it over time.