We are about a month away Health insurance annual enrollment period, which is the only chance most people will have to select a new plan for 2025. If you haven’t yet reviewed your health coverage, you have time. The annual registration period runs until December 7, but you probably don’t want to put it off for too long.

You’ll have an easier time determining which plan is best for you if you understand some of the major changes coming to Medicare in 2025. These may not all affect you now, but they’re worth keeping in mind as we move into the new. year.

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1. $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs

The biggest Medicare change coming next year is a $2,000 cap on prescription drug spending. The $2,000 includes the money you pay for your prescription drugs as well as the money any other person or organization, including Medicare’s Extra Help program, pays on your behalf. Once you reach the $2,000 threshold, Medicare will no longer charge you a copay on prescription drug costs for the remainder of 2025.

2. New prescription drug payment system

Additionally, Medicare is rolling out a new prescription payment plan that will help spread your costs throughout the year. However, this does not reduce what you owe. This is an optional feature that you must select if you wish to participate.

Those who participate in the payment plan will not have to pay anything when they go to the pharmacy. Instead, their Part D plan provider will send them a bill for a portion of their prescription drug costs for the year so far. This could be beneficial if you have significant prescription costs at the start of the year. But that may not help you much if you incur most of your costs later in the year. You can learn more about the payment plan option on the Medicare website.

3. Increased Limitations of Telehealth Services

Medicare beneficiaries can access telehealth services from anywhere until the end of 2024. But starting in 2025, these services will only be covered if you are in an office or medical facility in a rural area .

There are a few exceptions to this rule. They are:

• Monthly End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Visits for Home Dialysis

• Services to diagnose, evaluate or treat symptoms of an acute stroke, wherever you are

• Services to treat a substance use disorder or co-occurring mental health disorder or for the diagnosis, assessment or treatment of a mental health disorder

• Behavioral Health Services

• Diabetes self-management training

• Medical nutritional therapy

If you qualify for one of the exceptions above, telehealth services are still covered, no matter where you are. However, you will still owe your Part B deductible and 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.

4. Additional screenings during the annual wellness visit

All Medicare beneficiaries are entitled to an annual wellness visit that evaluates your current health and gives you advice on how to manage existing conditions. Starting in 2025, this visit will include screenings for cognitive decline as well as assessments for substance use disorders, if necessary.

5. New caregiver training resources

If your healthcare professional believes caregiver training is appropriate for your treatment plan, your caregiver may attend individual or group training sessions covered by your Medicare plan in 2025. You are not required to be present at these training sessions, but they should focus on your health goals and skills relevant to your care.

Medicare is also rolling out a new pilot program for people with dementia and their family members and caregivers. Check with your doctor if they participate in this program.

6. New benefits program for U.S. Postal Service employees

Starting next year, U.S. Postal Service employees will no longer receive benefits from the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Instead, they will receive their own Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. You can Learn more about this on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website..

This rule probably doesn’t apply to most people, but keep the others in mind as we approach 2025, even if they no longer seem relevant at the moment. You might not think you need carer training, for example, but if you suffer a serious injury or illness next year, it could become very important to you. So take note of these key changes and keep them in mind in the new year.

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