Home > Insurance Blog > What Do I Need To Know For Medicare Open Enrollment?
The first thing you need to know about Medicare open enrollment is the time frame. The window for fall open enrollment begins on October 15 and runs through December 7. Fall open enrollment is also called the annual election period.
Any changes you make during this enrollment period become effective on January 1 of the following year. You can enroll in, drop, or switch your Medicare plan coverage. If you are already enrolled in Medicare, open enrollment allows you to evaluate your existing plan, compare it to what is currently on the market, and update your healthcare coverage for the coming year.
Before you begin the process of making health coverage choices during the fall open enrollment period, there are certain things you should know, including the following:
From October 15 to December 7, you can:
The Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (MA OEP) runs from January 1 through March 31. Changes take effect on the first day of the month following the month you enroll. This enrollment period is not for people who already have Original Medicare. If you are dissatisfied with a Medicare Advantage plan chosen during fall open enrollment, you can switch plans during MA OEP.
You also have the option to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, with or without a Part D (prescription drug) plan at this time. You should know that if you go back to Original Medicare, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policy.
Filed Under: Medicare | Tagged With: Medicare