Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period, also commonly called Medicare Open Enrollment, runs:
October 15 through December 7
each year.
During this period, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage for the following year.
Changes generally take effect:
January 1
During October 15–December 7 you can:
You generally can’t use this period as a guaranteed Medigap enrollment period.
If you currently have Original Medicare, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during this period.
The new plan generally begins January 1.
You can change to another Medicare Advantage plan.
Reasons people may switch include:
You can also leave Medicare Advantage and return to:
Original Medicare Part A + Part B
If you do, consider whether you also need:
Part D
and:
Medigap
But remember:
Returning to Original Medicare doesn’t automatically guarantee you can purchase any Medigap policy you want.
Changing Part D Plans
If you’re in Original Medicare, you can:
standalone Medicare drug plans during Open Enrollment.
Your plan can change its:
Don’t assume next year’s plan is identical to this year’s.
Medicare Open Enrollment: What Can You Change?
I don’t think Medicare Open Enrollment should automatically mean:
“Change your plan.”
It should mean:
“Review your plan.”
If your doctors, medications and costs still look good, staying put may be the right decision.
But you should never assume nothing changed.
I particularly want people checking their prescription drugs, doctors and annual out-of-pocket risk every year.
Medicare Advantage plans cover Medicare-covered cancer treatment, including qualifying chemotherapy, but plan networks, prior authorization rules and out-of-pocket costs can become especially important when someone has cancer.
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs from January 1 through March 31 each year for people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
