You can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage Plan:
1) At Initial Enrollment Period - a 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65, or 3 months before your 25th month of disability. The period includes the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after the triggering event, such as 'turn 65'.
2) At Annual Enrollment Period - between October 15 and December 7. Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year. You may switch between Medicare Advantage plans. You also may switch from Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, or from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage plan. Be careful in considering joining Medicare only plan (MA) from another plan (Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare) with Part D coverage – you’ll lose the existing Part D coverage. Also, if you are in MA-PD plan and you decide to join the standalone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), you'll be disenrolled from your MA-PD plan and return back to Original Medicare.
3) At Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period - between January 1 and February 14. You can disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage plan, but only return to Original Medicare. You can also select a PDP for Part D coverage.
4) In certain situations you may be eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP) that allows you to make changes in your coverage outside of enrollment periods described above. Examples of SEP are: you’ve moved out of service area, you are qualified for an Extra Help, you have both Medicare and Medicaid, etc.
5) People who either have Medicare and Medicaid or qualify for Extra Help san switch plans every month.
6) Normally enrollment is on calendar year basis, starting the date your coverage begins.
1) At Initial Enrollment Period - a 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65, or 3 months before your 25th month of disability. The period includes the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after the triggering event, such as 'turn 65'.
2) At Annual Enrollment Period - between October 15 and December 7. Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year. You may switch between Medicare Advantage plans. You also may switch from Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, or from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage plan. Be careful in considering joining Medicare only plan (MA) from another plan (Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare) with Part D coverage – you’ll lose the existing Part D coverage. Also, if you are in MA-PD plan and you decide to join the standalone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), you'll be disenrolled from your MA-PD plan and return back to Original Medicare.
3) At Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period - between January 1 and February 14. You can disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage plan, but only return to Original Medicare. You can also select a PDP for Part D coverage.
4) In certain situations you may be eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP) that allows you to make changes in your coverage outside of enrollment periods described above. Examples of SEP are: you’ve moved out of service area, you are qualified for an Extra Help, you have both Medicare and Medicaid, etc.
5) People who either have Medicare and Medicaid or qualify for Extra Help san switch plans every month.
6) Normally enrollment is on calendar year basis, starting the date your coverage begins.