Medicare Plans

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Periods

 

Important information 
 

There are five set times a year that you can enroll in Medicare Advantage or change existing Medicare plans. AccessHMO helps you navigate these enrollment opportunities:

 

 

1. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

The first time an eligible person can enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and continues through the three months following your 65th birthday.

 

 

2. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) – January 1 - March 31 

The OEP allows beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan to make a one-time change to:

 

• Switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan

• Discontinue Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

• Sign up for a stand-alone MAPD Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan, if an individual elects to return to an Original Medicare plan
   

The OEP is only accessible for current Medicare Advantage policyholders.

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3.General Enrollment Period (GEP) – January 1 - March 31 

The GEP allows individuals who didn’t sign up for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) when they were first eligible an opportunity to enroll, but they may be subject to a late enrollment penalty for not enrolling when first eligible. 

Coverage will not start until July 1 of that year.

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4. Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) – October 15 - December 7

The AEP allows Medicare recipients to enroll in or change Medicare Advantage coverage plans.

During AEP, you can:

• Switch from Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare) to Medicare Advantage Part C

• Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another

• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug plan (Part D) to another MAPD

• Add a Medicare Part D -MAPD plan if you didn’t enroll when first eligible

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5. Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

Qualifying events may grant you eligibility to enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), enroll in and change Medicare Advantage coverage (Part C and/or Part D) 

 

You are qualified for a SEP if you are:

• Moving to a new location where new plan options are available

• Losing group employer coverage

• Diagnosed with a qualifying chronic condition, such as diabetes or chronic heart failure

• Moving in or out of a long term care hospital or a skilled nursing facility

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To gain a clear understanding of Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage plans, Part D Prescription coverage, and to find the Medicare plan combination that is most suitable to your healthcare needs, 
 

Please contact us to schedule a telephone call at your earliest convenience with a licensed and certified Medicare specialist from AccessHMO