Our vice president and chief business development officer, Michael Byrd, sat down with the Union Tribune to share open enrollment tips for shoppers.
Why should everyone review their health coverage during Open Enrollment?
This is your chance to evaluate what your current health plan covers and understand what costs to expect for services you may need. Even if you're happy with your current plan, it's always a good idea to explore your options for better quality, better benefits and a reputable brand that you can count on. You should also think about health care services you may need in the upcoming year when deciding whether to keep your current plan or choose a new one.
What key things should people consider when choosing a plan?
It's important to ask yourself what your current plan offers. Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits that original Medicare doesn't cover. For example, Sharp Health Plan's Sharp Direct Advantage® plans offer $0 monthly premiums, $0 doctor and specialist visits, as well as additional benefits like comprehensive dental coverage at no extra cost, a generous over-the-counter allowance, hearing aid and eyewear benefits and more. This is one of the reasons we have been voted San Diego's Best Health Insurance in San Diego's Best Union-Tribune Readers Poll for the past four years in a row.
If you have questions about Medicare, and how it works, Sharp Health Plan offers free online seminars. You can visit sharpmedicareadvantage.com/seminar to learn more.
How can people choose a health plan that covers all their prescriptions?
Search your current prescriptions in your health plan's drug list, or formulary, to make sure they're covered. Some drugs have over-the-counter (OTC) equivalents you can buy without a prescription, often at a lower price. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer an OTC benefit to help with the cost of cold medications, first aid supplies and more. For 2025, Sharp Health Plan's VIP Plan has an OTC benefit of $150 per quarter to cover eligible products.
What makes your company a great choice for people shopping for insurance?
Sharp Health Plan is one of the fastest-growing Medicare Advantage plans in San Diego and was named one of the Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage in California by U.S. News & World Report, based on 2024 CMS star ratings. We're also the only Medicare Advantage plan with direct access to Sharp HealthCare's award-winning delivery system. This allows us to ensure The Sharp Experience for our members from coverage to care.
I think more and more San Diegans are choosing Sharp Health Plan because of our personalized, local service. As a nonprofit health plan that's served San Diego for over 30 years, we truly are living and working in the communities that we serve — from the East County to the South Bay all the way up to the North County, we're connecting San Diegans to the best care at some of the most affordable prices.
Once someone is enrolled, how do you help them get the right care, when and where they need it?
Our members have access to same-day and next-day care both virtually and in person. We also offer urgent care locations across San Diego County. Additionally, members can go to MinuteClinic® at select CVS Pharmacy® locations. For medical advice after-hours, our members have access to a free nurse advice line. We also offer Emergency Travel Services to help members get needed care when traveling nationally or abroad.
We offer mental health coverage with one of the largest behavioral health provider networks in the country. Plus, there's no referral needed for outpatient therapy with in-network mental health providers.We also offer direct access to free health coaching through our awardwinning Best Health® wellness program.
