When you first get Medicare...
Initial Enrollment Period

When you're first eligible for Medicare, you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B.
If you're eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, you can sign up during the 7-month period that:
 
• Begins 3 months before the month you turn 65
• Includes the month you turn 65
• Ends 3 months after the month you turn 65
 
NOTE: If you aren’t automatically enrolled, you can sign up for free Part A (if you’re eligible) any time during or after your Initial Enrollment Period starts. Your coverage start date will depend on when you sign up. If you have to buy Part A and/or Part B, you can only sign up during a valid enrollment period. If you wait until the month you turn 65 (or the 3 months after you turn 65) to enroll, your Part B coverage will be delayed. This could cause a gap in your coverage.

AEP - ANNUAL ELECTION PERIOD
October 15 – December 7 each year

​AEP is an 8 week period from October 15th through December 7th where consumers can sign up for Medicare Part D and/or Medicare Advantage plans. Also you can:

• Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.

• Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.

• Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer drug coverage.

• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

• Switch from one Medicare drug plan to another Medicare drug plan.

• Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

Your coverages will start January 1.

OEP - OPEN ELECTION PERIOD
January 1 – March 31 each year

The Medicare OEP is a period at the beginning of each year when Medicare Advantage plan enrollees can make a one-time switch to a new plan.
It allows individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan to make a one-time change early in the year.
 
If you’re unhappy with your Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C), you have options? Each year, there’s a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31. During this time, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to change your health plan:
 
 

• You can do one of these

   

  • Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage.
  • Go back to Original Medicare and, if needed, also join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. 

   

  If you switch Medicare Advantage Plans or go back to Original Medicare with or without a Medicare drug plan, your new coverage will start the first day of the month after your new plan gets your request for coverage. Keep in mind, if you go back to Original Medicare now, you may not be able to buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.

  
  The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period isn’t for people who already have Original Medicare.
  ​

Special Enrollment Periods
(Special circumstances)

You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP.

EXAMPLES:

YOU CHANGE WHERE YOU LIVE:
Moved to new address outside my plan’s service area
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan and you move outside your plan’s service area, you can also choose to return to Original Medicare. If you don’t enroll in a new MA Plan during the time explained below, you’ll be enrolled in Original Medicare when you’re disenrolled from your old Medicare Advantage Plan.

ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
You can join, switch, or drop your Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare prescription drug coverage.

QUALIFY FOR EXTRA HELP
I qualify for Extra Help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
You can join, switch, or drop Medicare prescription drug coverage.

MORE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS
CLICK HERE