People often have questions about Medicare enrollment periods. If you want to change your coverage or sign up for the first time, you’ll need to be sure you don’t miss the enrollment period. Unfortunately, enrollment periods can be confusing and may vary depending on the circumstances. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about when you can enroll in Medicare.
Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained
There are five Medicare enrollment periods you should know about. Let’s take a look at them so you don’t miss the next one that’s right for you.
Medicare Initial Enrollment Period
This is the most commonly used enrollment period when you can join any plan. It starts three months before you become eligible for Medicare by turning 65 and ends three months after the month you turn 65. This should give you about seven months to enroll.
If your birthday is on the first of the month, your Medicare annual enrollment period actually starts four months prior to your birthday and ends two months after your birthday month.
Initial Enrollment Period—New to Part B
This period applies only if you’ve already been enrolled in Part A coverage (hospital insurance) but not Part B (medical insurance). It begins three months before you first become eligible for Part A and Part B. After you enroll in both Parts A and B, you then have two months to join a Medicare Advantage plan. Your coverage will begin the month after you enroll in the plan.
Open Enrollment Period
Sometimes, people realize their current Medicare plan isn’t working for them for one reason or another. If this sounds like you, there is still a way to switch. During the Medicare open enrollment period (October 15—December 7), you can make the following changes to your Medicare plan:
– Join, drop, or change to another Medicare Advantage plan.
– Add or drop drug coverage on an existing Medicare Advantage plan.
– Move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa.
– Join, drop, or change to a different Medicare drug plan when you currently have Original Medicare.
If you enroll during this time, your coverage will start on January 1 of the next year. Remember that you need to make your enrollment request no later than December 7.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
This enrollment period is specifically for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It runs from January 1 to March 31 each year and for three months after you enroll in Medicare.
In this enrollment period, you can make the following changes to your Medicare Advantage plan:
– Move to another Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage.
– Leave your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare. This comes with the option to join a Medicare drug plan separately.
Special Enrollment Period
The Medicare special enrollment period varies depending on certain life events. You may be eligible for a special enrollment period if one of the following has occurred recently:
– You moved to a new address.
– You lost or changed your current coverage (such as health insurance through an employer).
– You joined Medicaid.
– You started receiving additional benefits related to prescription drug costs.
If you qualify for a special enrollment period, you’ll have the option to:
– Join a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare drug plan.
– Change to a different plan.
If you’re able to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B during a special enrollment period due to specific circumstances, you will have two months to join or switch to another plan. The start of coverage varies, but most people joining during a special enrollment period are covered on the first of the month after their request is received.
What Can Happen if You Miss the Right Window?
You can still enroll in Medicare, but you will pay a late enrollment penalty. This is typically charged every month for as long as you have Medicare—it is not a one-time penalty. For this reason, we highly recommend that you don’t miss the initial enrollment window.
What to Review Before You Enroll or Switch
It’s important to understand the coverage you will be signing up for, as well as the costs. Sometimes, comparing costs and coverage can be confusing. You have to take into account not only what you’ll pay in premiums but also out-of-pocket costs.
This is one reason why people sometimes switch plans during an open enrollment period. They may find that the plan they chose costs more than anticipated and that another plan would work better for their needs. Alternatively, they might discover that a service they need is not covered, or that they can no longer see the same healthcare provider. Although you can switch plans during the open enrollment period, choosing the best plan initially can save you time and money.
How Medicare Sharks Can Help
Identifying all the differences between plan options can be challenging, and you only have a limited window to enroll in Medicare. If you need Medicare enrollment help, speak to a Medicare Sharks licensed agent to determine which deadline applies to your situation. We’re always available for a free consultation to answer your questions and assist you in comparing plans.
FAQs About Medicare Enrollment Periods
Here are some common questions people have about enrollment periods:
Will I Be Notified of My Eligibility Before the Enrollment Period Ends?
People often ask us if they will be notified by Medicare when their enrollment period begins. If you are already on Social Security, the answer is yes, and you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare, too. However, if you’re not already on Social Security, you won’t be automatically enrolled, and you should not count on Medicare to notify you. To ensure you don’t miss the initial enrollment period, it’s a good idea to make a calendar or planner note for the date three months before your 65th birthday.
If I enroll during the initial enrollment period, when does my coverage start?
If you like getting things done early and enroll prior to the month you turn 65, your coverage starts the month you turn 65. When you enroll during your birthday month or in the three months after, your coverage begins the month after you enroll.
When Can I Change Medicare Plans?
If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare plan, you can change to a different plan during the open enrollment period between October 15 and December 7. If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make changes during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31, or for three months after enrolling in Medicare.
People often have questions about Medicare enrollment periods. If you want to change your coverage or sign up for the first time, you’ll need to be sure you don’t miss the enrollment period. Unfortunately, enrollment periods can be confusing and may vary depending on the circumstances. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about when you can enroll in Medicare.
Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained
There are five Medicare enrollment periods you should know about. Let’s take a look at them so you don’t miss the next one that’s right for you.
Medicare Initial Enrollment Period
This is the most commonly used enrollment period when you can join any plan. It starts three months before you become eligible for Medicare by turning 65 and ends three months after the month you turn 65. This should give you about seven months to enroll.
If your birthday is on the first of the month, your Medicare annual enrollment period actually starts four months prior to your birthday and ends two months after your birthday month.
Initial Enrollment Period—New to Part B
This period applies only if you’ve already been enrolled in Part A coverage (hospital insurance) but not Part B (medical insurance). It begins three months before you first become eligible for Part A and Part B. After you enroll in both Parts A and B, you then have two months to join a Medicare Advantage plan. Your coverage will begin the month after you enroll in the plan.
Open Enrollment Period
Sometimes, people realize their current Medicare plan isn’t working for them for one reason or another. If this sounds like you, there is still a way to switch. During the Medicare open enrollment period (October 15—December 7), you can make the following changes to your Medicare plan:
– Join, drop, or change to another Medicare Advantage plan.
– Add or drop drug coverage on an existing Medicare Advantage plan.
– Move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa.
– Join, drop, or change to a different Medicare drug plan when you currently have Original Medicare.
If you enroll during this time, your coverage will start on January 1 of the next year. Remember that you need to make your enrollment request no later than December 7.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
This enrollment period is specifically for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It runs from January 1 to March 31 each year and for three months after you enroll in Medicare.
In this enrollment period, you can make the following changes to your Medicare Advantage plan:
– Move to another Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage.
– Leave your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare. This comes with the option to join a Medicare drug plan separately.
Special Enrollment Period
The Medicare special enrollment period varies depending on certain life events. You may be eligible for a special enrollment period if one of the following has occurred recently:
– You moved to a new address.
– You lost or changed your current coverage (such as health insurance through an employer).
– You joined Medicaid.
– You started receiving additional benefits related to prescription drug costs.
If you qualify for a special enrollment period, you’ll have the option to:
– Join a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare drug plan.
– Change to a different plan.
If you’re able to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B during a special enrollment period due to specific circumstances, you will have two months to join or switch to another plan. The start of coverage varies, but most people joining during a special enrollment period are covered on the first of the month after their request is received.
What Can Happen if You Miss the Right Window?
You can still enroll in Medicare, but you will pay a late enrollment penalty. This is typically charged every month for as long as you have Medicare—it is not a one-time penalty. For this reason, we highly recommend that you don’t miss the initial enrollment window.
What to Review Before You Enroll or Switch
It’s important to understand the coverage you will be signing up for, as well as the costs. Sometimes, comparing costs and coverage can be confusing. You have to take into account not only what you’ll pay in premiums but also out-of-pocket costs.
This is one reason why people sometimes switch plans during an open enrollment period. They may find that the plan they chose costs more than anticipated and that another plan would work better for their needs. Alternatively, they might discover that a service they need is not covered, or that they can no longer see the same healthcare provider. Although you can switch plans during the open enrollment period, choosing the best plan initially can save you time and money.
How Medicare Sharks Can Help
Identifying all the differences between plan options can be challenging, and you only have a limited window to enroll in Medicare. If you need Medicare enrollment help, speak to a Medicare Sharks licensed agent to determine which deadline applies to your situation. We’re always available for a free consultation to answer your questions and assist you in comparing plans.
FAQs About Medicare Enrollment Periods
Here are some common questions people have about enrollment periods:
Will I Be Notified of My Eligibility Before the Enrollment Period Ends?
People often ask us if they will be notified by Medicare when their enrollment period begins. If you are already on Social Security, the answer is yes, and you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare, too. However, if you’re not already on Social Security, you won’t be automatically enrolled, and you should not count on Medicare to notify you. To ensure you don’t miss the initial enrollment period, it’s a good idea to make a calendar or planner note for the date three months before your 65th birthday.
If I enroll during the initial enrollment period, when does my coverage start?
If you like getting things done early and enroll prior to the month you turn 65, your coverage starts the month you turn 65. When you enroll during your birthday month or in the three months after, your coverage begins the month after you enroll.
When Can I Change Medicare Plans?
If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare plan, you can change to a different plan during the open enrollment period between October 15 and December 7. If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make changes during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31, or for three months after enrolling in Medicare.