Medicare Advantage - 2012

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In 2012, CMS has added a new Special Enrollmet period allowing Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a 5 star Medicare Advantage plan at any time during the year.

You are eligible if you are:
- having a 5 start plan in your County, and
- eligible for Medicare Advantage (i.e. have Medicare Parts A and B, live in the service area of the plan, and don't have ESRD), and
- enrolled into Original Medicare, or enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan that is rated 4.5 stars or less

There are very few 5 stars plans available, so you are lucky if you have one in your County. Even if you have such plan, you should confirm whether it fits your needs . Questions like:

- are my doctors in plan's network?
- are my prescriptions is a part of plan's Part D formulary
should be asked first before any enrollment action is taken.

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The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for 2012 Medicare Advantage Plans will start on October 15, 2011 and end on December 7, 2011. Notice, it's earlier than the last year (November 15 - December 31). Don't miss it!

All Medicare Advantage Plans are annual plans ending Dec. 31, 2011. Insurance companies may either renew a plan for 2012 (with or without changes in benefits/premium), or discontinue a plan.

If the Medicare Advantage Plan has been renewed and you do nothing during AEP, you'll be automatically enrolled into the plan for year 2012

Your new coverage will begin on Jan. 1 , 2012
You may make more than one election during AEP. Your final election will overwrite all previously made elections.

You cannot change your Medicare Advantage Plan after AEP, unless you are entitled for one of the Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You also can leave the plan and switch to Original Medicare during Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MAPD) (Jan. 1 - Feb. 14, 2012)