Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. Medicare's open enrollment period runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. During this time, you can review Medicare coverage options and make changes to your plan. Below are resources to help you understand your options, including a list of plans accepted by BJC providers.

In addition to traditional Medicare, BJC HealthCare is an in-network provider for numerous Medicare Advantage plans including ones offered by: Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Devoted Health, Essence, Health Alliance, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare.

Please confirm with your current or prospective health plan to make sure that a specific product is one in which BJC participates. Check with your plan to confirm that BJC providers are included in your plan’s network before scheduling an appointment.

For general questions regarding Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans, please call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).

Visit medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare, to sign up or change plans, learn about Medicare coverage choices and more. Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) to reach Medicare by phone.

Missouri SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) is certified by the federal and state government to provide free, unbiased, and confidential (private) Medicare services. Missouri SHIP has nearly 200 counselors throughout Missouri providing local Medicare counseling in their communities. Learn more at missouriship.org.

Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is a free, statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. Learn more at ilaging.illinois.gov/ship

The Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Visit ssa.gov or call 800-772-1213 to reach Social Security by phone.