When Can I Join/Change a Medicare Plan?

• There are certain enrollment dates that you can join or change your Medicare Advantage plan (keep in mind that joining Medicare is different than joining a Medicare plan)
• The following are Enrollment Periods when you can Join/Change a Medicare Advantage Plan or Prescription Drug Plan (See below for Medicare Supplement Plans)
  • IEP: (Initial Eleciton Period) This is a 7-month window for you to join a Medicare plan
    • 3-months prior to your birthday month
    • Your birthday month
    • 3-month after your birthday month
  • ICEP:  (Initial Coverage Election Period) This is a 3-month period before you become eligible for both Part A & Part B
    • This mostly happens when you have continued to work and are covered under an employer (or spouses) group coverage and you then retire and apply for Medicare. You will be given a Medicare Part B start date and thus your ICEP will begin 3-months prior to that Part B start date and you will have up until that Part B start date to choose a Medicare Advantage plan
  • AEP: (Annual Election Period) October 15 - December 7, this is your 1-time per year Enrollment period where you can review new plans for the following year and....
    • Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
    • Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
    • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
    • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
    • Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
    • Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
    • Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
    • Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.
    • ***Your new coverage will start on January 1 of the following year***
  • SEP: (Special Eleciton Period) 
    • A Medicare SEP is a period of time to enroll or change a Medicare Advantage plan outside of the Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) or Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP). There are various types of SEPs that would allow you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan outside of these periods.
    • An SEP must be triggered by a qualifying event. Here are a few of those reasons......
      • Change in permanent residence outside of current MA plan service area
      • Loss of Union/Employer group coverage
      • Loss or change of Medicare/DUAL or PACE coverage
      • Been approved for a Retroactive Medcicare Enrollment
      • Loss of current MA plan due to that specific plan leaving MA service area
  • OEP: (Open Enrollment Period) January 1 - March 31
    • If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), you can make one change to a different plan or switch  back to Original Medicare (and join a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan) once during this  time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request.
      

       

• When to buy a Medicare Supplement policy

  • The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is the six-month period that begins on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 or older and have enrolled in Part B. (Some states have additional Open Enrollment Periods.) After this enrollment period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy. If you are able to buy one, it may cost more.
  • If you delay in Part B because you have group health coverage based on your (or your spouse's) current employment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period won't start until you sign up for Part B.

If you have questions about enrollment please give us a call. We're here to help.

This information comes from www.medicare.gov and Medicare and You.

By contacting the phone number on this website you will be directed to a licensed local agent.